Study of pattern of intracranial haemorrhages in fatal head injury cases of road traffic accident

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. To make a statistical analysis of 200 cases of road traffic accidents subjected to autopsy in the institute of forensic medicine, madras medical college. 2. to conduct a detailed study of pattern of intracranial haemorrhages in fatal head injury cases of road traffic accidents. 3. To study the etiopathology of head injury in reference to intra cranial haemorrhage. STUDY CENTRE: Institute Of Forensic Medicine, Madras Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai. DURATION OF STUDY: One Year. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study METHODOLOGY: Letulle’s method of en masse removal of viscera, detailed post mortem examination of head injuries. SAMPLE SIZE: 200 cases INCLUSION CRITERIA: All cases of fatal head injuries. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Presence of advanced decomposition. 2. Presence of coexisting burn injury to head. RESULTS: The present study Pattern of intracranial haemorrhages in fatal head injury cases of road traffic accident was conducted at the Institute of forensic medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai-03. 200 cases were subjected to medicolegal autopsy. Head injury can occur at any age. In our present study males in the age group of 31 – 50 years were more commonly involved. This is because men are more into outdoor activities. Most of the men who were involved in the road traffic accidents were either two wheeler drivers or pillion riders. Females who succumbed to road traffic accidents were mostly pillion riders without helmet .The most common offending vehicle was two wheeler. Most of the accidents occurred during day time. Scalp contusion was the most common injury of the scalp followed by laceration of the scalp and abrasion. Fissure fracture of the skull was the most common type of fractur. temporal bone was most commonly fractured and occipital bone was least commonly fractured Subdural haemorrhage was the most common of the intracranial haemorrhage followed by subarachnoid haemorrhage .Among the combination of intracranial haemorrhages were considered –combination of subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage was commonest. In fracture of base of skull, fracture of the middle cranial fossa is commonest followed by fracture of anterior cranial fossa. Parenchymal injuries to the brain was the least common in our study. Other than head injury chest and rib fracture were the commonest injury .Only two cases had laceration of the liver