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Injury pattern among non-fatal road traffic accident cases: A cross-sectional study in
Central India
Article in Indian Journal of Medical Sciences · February 2005
DOI: 10.4103/0019-5359.13812 · Source: PubMed
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9 10 INDIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
INJURY PATTERN AMONG NON-FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT In India, over 80,000 persons die in the traffic The site of injury was recorded as reported in
CASES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN CENTRAL INDIA crashes annually, over 1.2 million are injured the case sheets of the patients by the
GUNJAN B. GANVEER, RAJNARAYAN R. TIWARI*
seriously and about 300000 disabled specialists. The statistical analysis included
permanently. In India, for individuals more than calculation of percentages and proportions
4 years of age, more life years are lost due to and application of test of significance like Chi-
traffic crashes than due to cardiovascular square test and t-test.
ABSTRACT
diseases or neoplasms.[2,3] While the mortality
RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the pattern of injuries among non-fatal cases of data could be available with little effort, the RESULTS
road traffic accidents? OBJECTIVE: To study the pattern of injuries among non-fatal data on non-fatal victims suffering from various
cases of road traffic accidents. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: types of injuries is very difficult as it depends The distribution of study subject according to
Nagpur, a city in central India. PARTICIPANTS: 423 non-fatal cases of road traffic on to which health care unit the victim reports the age and sex is depicted in Table 1. Out of
accidents reporting for treatment to Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur during for treatment. However as these injuries total 423 subjects, 363 (85.8%) were male
1999-2000. STUDY VARIABLES: Demographic characteristics, accident characteristics. depend on number of factors like type of while only 60 (14.2%) were female subjects.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Percentages, proportions, Chi-square test. RESULTS: Out accident, colliding vehicle, site of impact, etc., Thus a male: female ratio of 6:1 was observed.
of total 423 subjects, 363 (85.8%) were male while only 60 (14.2%) were female
their study is important for setting priorities for It can be observed from the table that majority
subjects. Majority of the victims (75%) were in the age group 18- 37 years. Sideways
the prevention of such injuries. Very few of the victims were in the age group 18-37
collision was the most common type of accident seen in 269 (63.59%) cases. Two
studies have attempted to study the pattern of years constituting about three fourth of the
wheelers and LMV were the common vehicle being involved in accidents (69.97%) and
these accidents were almost equally distributed in both half of the day. Fracture of injuries in non-fatal accident victims in the study victims while only 76 (17.97%) cases
the bones was the common injury afflicted to the victims followed by multiple injuries Indian cities, particularly in Central India. Thus were aged more than 37 years.
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like blunt injury, abrasions and lacerations. Lower extremity was involved in 192 the present cross-sectional study was carried
(45.39%) cases while multiple sites were affected in 114 (26.95%) cases. out to understand the pattern of injuries in non- The distribution of study subjects according to
CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the fractures were the commonest injury fatal road traffic accident cases. accident and injury characteristics is shown in
among the victims of non-fatal road traffic accidents. Table 2. Sideways collision of two vehicles
MATERIALS AND METHODS was the most common type of accident seen
KEY WORDS: Injury pattern, Non-fatal RTA, Central India in the study being observed in 269 (63.59%)
The present cross sectional study was carried cases. Two wheelers and light motor vehicles
out at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur. were the common vehicle being involved in
INTRODUCTION concern globally. Currently motor vehicle All the non-fatal cases of road traffic accidents accidents (69.97%) and the accidents were
accidents rank ninth in order of disease reporting to Indira Gandhi Medical College, more common during the daytime. Fracture of
The process of rapid and unplanned burden and are projected to be ranked third in Nagpur for treatment during 1999-2000 were the bones was the common injury afflicted to
urbanization has resulted in an unprecedented the year 2020. Worldwide, the number of included in the study. The information about the the victims followed by multiple injuries like
revolution in the growth of motor vehicles people killed in road traffic crashes each year patients admitted as cases of road traffic
Table 1: Age and sex- wise distribution of study
worldwide. The alarming increase in morbidity is estimated at almost 1.2 million, while the accidents was obtained from the records of subjects
and mortality owing to road traffic accidents number injured could be as high as 50 Out Patient Department of the hospital daily
Age-groups Male Female Total
over the past few decades is a matter of great million. [1] and then these patients were contacted in the
≤17 27 (77.4) 7 (22.6) 34 (8.04)
wards. Thus the study included a total of 423
18-27 121 (82.3) 26 (17.7) 147 (34.75)
victims of road traffic accidents. Using 28-37 147 (88.6) 19 (11.4) 166 (39.24)
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Indira Correspondence: 38-47 52 (89.7) 6 (10.3) 58 (13.72)
Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, *Occupational Medicine Dr. Rajnarayan R. Tiwari, Occupational Medicine Division, interview technique as tool for data collection,
48-57 12 (92.3) 1 (7.7) 13 (3.07)
National Institute of Occupational Health, Meghani Nagar, the demographic and injury characteristics
Division, National Institute of Occupational Health,
Ahmedabad - 380016, India.
≥58 4 (80.0) 1 (20.0) 5 (1.18)
Ahmedabad, India Total 363 (85.8) 60 (14.2) 423
E-mail: rajtiwari2810@[Link] were recorded on a pre-designed proforma.
Indian J Med Sci Vol. 59 No. 1, January 2005 Indian J Med Sci Vol. 59 No. 1, January 2005
INJURY PATTERN IN CENTRAL INDIA 11 12 INDIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Table 2: Distribution of study subjects according to The male: female ratio of 6:1 can be attributed be because of the increased activities on road Region: Priorities for policy and action. Delhi:
accident characteristics to the fact that propor tion of males as SEARO, World Health Organization; 2002. p. 1-19.
during daytime such as commercial activities,
Characteristics Number (%) compared to females is more and in our activities like attending the schools, colleges 4. Sathiyasekaran BWC. Study of the injured and
society as males are the bread earners for the and offices. This increases the probability of the pattern in road traffic accidents. Indian J
Colliding vehicle
Bicycles 18 (4.25) family and therefore involved usually in Forensic Sci 1991;5:63-8.
the accidents in the daytime. The difference in
Two wheelers (motorized) 114 (26.95) 5. Dhingra N, Khan MY, Zaheer M, Sinha SNS,
Light Motor Vehicle 182 (43.02) outdoor activities exposing themselves to the occurrence of accidents according to two
Khan A, Dhingra M. Road traffic management-
Heavy Motor Vehicle 83 (19.62) accidents. Frank et al also observed a higher halves of the day was found to be statistically
Others 26 (6.14) A national strategy 1991. Proceedings of the
Type of accident
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International Conference on Traffic Safety, 27-
Head on 95 (22.45) studies also substantiate these findings.[12-13] 30 January 1991, New Delhi, India.
Sideways 269 (63.59) In the present study, motorized two-wheelers
Others 59 (13.94) 6. Ghosh PK. Epidemiological study of the victims
Type of Injury and light motor vehicles were the common Thus to conclude from the present study, it was of vehicular accidents in Delhi. J Indian Med
Blunt 60 (14.18) vehicles involved in road traffic accidents. This found that fractures were the commonest injury Assoc 1992;90:309-12.
Fracture 279 (65.95)
Lacerated 4 (0.23) could be attributed to the fact that the present among the victims of non-fatal road traffic 7. Balogun JA, Abereoje OK. Pattern of road traffic
Multiple 80 (18.91) study is carried out in an urban area where accidents which commonly involved motorized accidents cases in a Nigeria University Teaching
Site of injury Hospital between 1987 and 1990. J Trop Med
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Head, Neck, Face 60 (14.18) carried out in other cities of the country.[4-6,9] 8. Frank TM. The effectiveness of bicyclists helmet:
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Time of accident recommended that strict licensure procedure
Day (6 am to 6 pm) 225 (53.19) 1993;34:834-45.
The sideways accidents were found to be should be followed and minimum level of
Day (6 pm to 6 am) 198 (46.81) 9. Mehta SP. An epidemiological study of road traffic
[Downloaded free from [Link] on Thursday, May 14, 2009]
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accidents in these age groups can be was studied it was observed that 225 (53.19%)
attributed to the risk taking behavior of youths. accidents took place in the daytime. This may
Indian J Med Sci Vol. 59 No. 1, January 2005 Indian J Med Sci Vol. 59 No. 1, January 2005