A study of pattern and distribution of intra-cranial haemorrhages in fatal road traffic accidents at a tertiary care centre in Indore region of Madhya Pradesh

Head injuries are the most serious injuries in the term of morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted in mortuary of MGM Medical College, Indore over the period of one year from 1st October 2014 to 30th September 2015. A total of 200 post-mortem cases of road traffic accident victims were studied. Objective of the study was to find out pattern and distribution of intracranial hemorrhages in fatal road traffic accident victims. In the present study males (n=156, 78.0%) outnumbered females (n=44, 22.0 %). Most affected age group was between 21-30 years having total 65 cases (32.5%), followed by 31-40 years in 38 (19.0 %) cases. Sub Dural Hemorrhage (SDH) alone was present in 32 (16.0%) cases which was most common, followed by Sub Arachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) in 31 (15.5%) cases. In combination SDH with SAH was most common hemorrhage i.e. in 88 (44.0%) cases. RTAs were more common in the younger age groups and in male sex.  Head injury was the major cause of death in majority cases of RTAs mostly due to Subdural and Subarachnoid Haemorrhages. This further shows the need of strict implementations of rules for controlling the speed of vehicle. Keywords: Road traffic accident, Extra dural hemorrhage, Sub dural hemorrhage, Sub arachnoid hemorrhage.