Post Mortem Study of Brain Injuries in Fatal Road Traffic Accidentsin A Teaching Hospital

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant global health and socioeconomic issue [1]. Head Injury is a general term used to describe any trauma to the head but most especially with involvement of the brain. It is estimated that nearly 1.5 to 2 million persons are injured and 1 million succumb to death every year in India. Despite the high mortality rate following traffic accidents, the factors that contribute to this rate have received little research attention, and data regarding cause of death, pattern of injuries and epidemiological aspects of road accidents are still scarce [2]. Objectives: It aimed to study the socio-demographic profile and the pattern of brain injuries. Data will be collected from the information furnished from post-mortem examination reports, autopsy requisitions and inquest reports, medical records available. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 90autopsies conducted at the Mortuary in a teaching hospital during 2019 to 2021.Data were extracted from the information furnished from post-mortem examination reports, autopsy requisitions and inquest reports, medical records available. It aimed to study the socio-demographic profile and the pattern of brain injuries. Universal sampling method was used to recruit the cases. Results: This study involved 90 autopsy cases with Traumatic brain injuries. TBI was highly prevalent among 31-40 years age group. 84 % of them were married, 73% of the victims were males and the rest were females. 53.3% of the cases were due to hit on pedestrian. The next common was vehicle-to -vehicle collision and followed by others. The commonest injury pattern were multiple abrasions, followed by contusions, crush injury of head and internal injuries. Linear fracture of skull was the most common type of fracture found and the least common was depressed fracture. There was no fracture in 8.8 % of the cases. Fractures were most commonly located in temporal bone and least in parietal bone. Subdural haemorrhage was the most common intracranial haemorrhage (35.5%) found, followed by subarachnoid and extradural amounting to 24%. 10% of the cases showed the evidence of meningeal tears. 43.3% of the victims were rider or driver, 30% were pedestrians, 18.8% were passengers and the remaining were pillion rider.74.4 % were spot dead and the rest were admitted in the hospital and then later succumbed. 83.3% of the victims were under the influence of alcohol during the accident. Conclusion: Nearly half of the of TBI was found among 31 – 40 years age group. 48 % of the cases have resulted due to hit on pedestrians. Almost one-fourth of the cases had multiple abrasions over the body. 45.5% cases had temporal bone fracture in the skull. More than quarter cases had linear type of fracture. Most of them were rider or driver and majority of them were spot dead. Alcohol consumption was also recorded in most of the cases. Road traffic accidents are one of the miserable epidemics growing silently and has to be controlled efficiently to reduce the economic burden of the country