A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON SKULL FRACTURES IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING TWO WHEELERS

Objective: Objective of present study was to assess the patterns of skull fractures in road traffic accidents involving two wheelers.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Forensic Medicine Quaid-e-Azam Medical College/Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur from January 2019 to December 2019 over the period of one year.  Total 245 death cases due to fata road traffic accident accidents involving two-wheel riders either male or female, all age groups, treated and untreated, irrespective of duration of survival was included in the study.

Results: Out of 245 death cases, 232 (95%) were male and 13 (5%) were female. Total 133 (54.29%) cases belonged to age group 15-30 years followed by 74 (30.2%) to age group 31-45 years, 33 (13.47%) cases to age group 46-60 years and 5 (2.04%) cases belonged to age group >60 years.  Linear fracture of vertex was seen in 37 (15.10%) cases, comminuted fracture of vertex was seen in 2.45% cases, depressed facture of vertex was noted in 9 (3.67%) cases, basal fracture was seen in 29 (11.84%) cases, basal fracture and linear fracture of vertex was seen in 55 (22.45%) cases, crush fracture of skull was seen in 30 (12.24%) cases.  

Conclusion: Results of present study showed that most of the cases were male.  Most of the cases were between 15-30 years.  Basal fracture + linear fracture of vertex were the most common type of skull fracture.

Key words: Death, skull fracture, linear fracture, road traffic accident