Pattern of Morbidity and Mortality Due to Road Traffic Accident Cases at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan

Abstract

Introduction: Road traffic injuries and deaths caused by motor vehicles is a growing public health problem all over the world. Head injury and blunt abdominal trauma are major health problems and are frequent causes of death among Road Traffic Accident (RTA) victims.

Methods: A total of 348 cases were examined in Emergency department and the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan during the period of one year. Data were collected using proforma and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 11.5. Injury Severity Score (ISS) was used to assess the severity of injuries.

Result: There were 318 morbidity and 30 mortality cases. Male to female ratio was 2.2:1. The commonest age group involved was 21-30 years i.e.32.1%. The most common vehicle involved was two wheelers (60.9%) followed by heavy four or more wheelers (20.9%) and the most common nature of accident was through collision of the vehicles. Abrasion was the most common injury occurred during the RTA (61.2%). 34.1% of the victims had laceration, 8.6% had contusion and 20.9% had fractures. Median Injury Severity Score was 31.5 in mortality and 1 in morbidity cases.

Conclusion: Road traffic accident is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Injuries in various body regions are frequent findings in victims of RTA. The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) of mortality cases was significantly high compared to that of morbidity cases.