Published January 14, 2019 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Analysis of Road Traffic Accident Claimants Evaluated for Medico-Legal Assessment, Pretoria, South Africa

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Louis Pasteur Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
  • 2. Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa
  • 3. Medforum Mediclinic Hospital, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Description

Background: Injuries sustained after a road traffic accident (RTA) can lead to financial distress through loss of a source of income. The victim could sustain a permanent disability which could also affect the family.

Objectives: The objective was to analyze road traffic claimants/victims with musculoskeletal injuries who presented for medico-legal assessment for compensation.

Methods: This was a retrospective study analyzing the files of 3000 claimants who presented for medico-legal evaluation in order to obtain compensation from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) following a road traffic accident based on the assessment of a private orthopaedic surgeon for a period of six years.

Results: More males (66.6%) than females (33.4%) were involved in the study. The majority of claimants (70.6%) were working before the accident occurred and students accounted for about (15.8%). About 1162 (54.9%) of workers were able to return to work but 955 (45.1%) lost their jobs. For those who returned to their workplace, 1063 (91.5%) went back to the same position and 99 (8.5%) were redeployed. Private cars (78.3%) were responsible for many accidents. Passenger involvement (52.2%) was higher than that of drivers (15.9%) and pedestrians (31.3%). The cervical spine (21.9%) had higher number of body injuries. The leg (18.8%) sustained higher extremity fracture. Associated musculoskeletal injury was head injury (64.5%). Some claimants presented with multiple injuries at an average of 1.3%. Majority of claimants were admitted in government hospitals (85.6%) than private hospitals (14.4%) and (74%) of those who were admitted were treated surgically.

Conclusion: The study had a high number of socio-economically active males involved in road traffic accidents. Majority of claimants were treated in government hospitals. Hence there is a high demand for many trauma hospitals in every province to combat the vast needs of those requiring specialized medical treatment.

Notes

International Journal of Clinical and Medical Cases (ISSN:2517-7346)

Files

ijcmc-2-116.pdf

Files (641.5 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:909e9778c3704a77a6efbc86ee807dd2
641.5 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Related works

Is published in
Journal article: https://www.boffinaccess.com/clinical-and-medical-cases/analysis-of-road-2-116/ijcmc-2-116.pdf (URL)
Journal article: https://www.boffinaccess.com/clinical-and-medical-cases/analysis-of-road-2-116 (URL)

References

  • WHO. Road traffic injuries. World Health Organization. 2018.
  • Hoving DJ, Lategan HJ, Wallis LA, Smith WP. The epidemiology of major incidents in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. S AfrMed J. 2015 Sep;105(10):831-834.
  • Meel BL. Fatal road traffic accidents in the Mthatha area of South Africa, 1993-2004. S Afr Med J. 2015 Sep;98(9):716-719.
  • Road Safety Annual Report 2017.
  • Road accident fund.
  • Parkinson F, Kent S, Oosthuizen G, Clarke D. Road traffic crashes in South Africa: the burden of injury to a regional trauma centre. S Afr Med J. 2013 Sep;103(11):850-852.
  • Naddumba EK. Musculoskeletal trauma services in Uganda. ClinOrthop Relat Res. 2008 Oct;466(10):2317-2322.
  • Kanchan T, Kulkari V, Bakkanavar S, Kumar N, Unnikrishnan B. Analysis of fatal road traffic accidents in a coastal township of South India. J Forensic Leg Med. 2012 Nov;19(8):448-451.
  • TöroK, Hubay M, Sótonyi P, Keller E. Fatal traffic injuries among pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicle occupants. Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Jul;151(2-3):151-156.
  • Mahdian M, Sehat M, Fazel M, Moraveji A, Mohammadzadeh M. Epidemiology of urban traffic accident victims hospitalized more than 24 hours in a Level 3 trauma centre, Kashan County, Iran,during 2012-2013. Arch Trauma Res. 2015 Jun;4(2):e28465.
  • Tavris DR, Kuhn EM, Layde PM. Age and gender patterns in motor vehicle crash injuries: importance of type of crash and occupantrole. Accid Anal Prev. 2001 Mar;33(2):167-172.
  • Zhang J, Fraser S, Lindsay J, Clarke K, Mao Y. Age-specific patterns of factors related to fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes: focus on young and elderly drivers. Public Health. 1998 Sep;112(5):289- 295.
  • Roudsari BS, Sharzei K, Zargar M. Sex and age distribution in transport-related injuries in Tehran. Accid Anal Prev. 2004;May;36(3):391-398.
  • Parkinson F, Kent S, Aldous C, Oosthuizen G, Clarke DL. Patterns ofinjury seen in road crash victims in South African trauma centre.S Afr J Surg. 2013 Oct;51(4):131-134.
  • Pretorius CJ, Firth GB. Road traffic accidents and orthopaedic injuries in children. SA orthop J. 2010 Jan; Spring:65-68.
  • Chakravarthy B, Lotfipour S, Vaca FE. Pedestrian injuries :emergency care considerations. Cal J Emerg Med. 2007Feb;8(1):15-21.
  • Diedericks A. The effects of motor vehicle accidents on careers and the work performance of victims. SAJIP. 2014; 40:1-10.
  • Mock CN, Forjuoh SN, Rivara FP. Epidemiology of transportrelated injuries in Ghana. Accid Anal Prev. 1999 Jul;31(4):359-370.
  • Hou W, Tsauo J, Lin C, Liang H, Du C. Worker's compensation and return to work following orthopaedic injuries to extremities. J Rehabil Med 2008;40:440-445.
  • Read K, Kufera J, Dischinger P, Kerns TJ, Ho SM, et al. Life-alteringoutcomes after lower extremity injury sustained in motor vehiclecrashes. J. Trauma. 2004 Oct;57(4):815-823.
  • Pfeifer R, Lichte P, Zelle B, Sittaro NA, Zilkens A, et al. Socioeconomic outcomes after blunt orthopaedic trauma: implicationson injury prevention. Patient Saf Surg. 2011 May;5:9.
  • Gozzard C, Bannister G, Langkamer G, Khan S, Gargan M, et al.Factors affecting employment after whiplash injury. J Bone JointSurg Br. 2001 May;83(2):506-509.
  • Cassidy J, Carroll L, Lemstra M, Berglund A, Nygren A. Effect of eliminating compensation for pain and suffering on the out come of insurance claims for whiplash injury. N Engl J Med 2000Apr;342(16):1179-1186.
  • Hardcastle T, Brysiewicz P. Trauma care in South Africa: from humble beginnings to an Afro-centric outreach. Int EmergNurs.2013 Apr;21(2):118-122.
  • Naidoo S. The South African national health insurance: are volution in health-care delivery! Oral Public Health. 2012Mar;34:149-150.
  • Peng R, Bongard F. Pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents: Ananalys is of 5000 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 1999 Oct; 189(4):343-348.
  • Sothmann J, Stander J, Kruger N. Epidemiology of acute spinalcord injuries in the Groote Schuur Hospital acute spinal cordinjury (GSH ASCI) unit, Cape Town, South Africa, over the past 11years. S Afr Med J. 2015 Sep;105(10):835-839.
  • ISHN. Road traffic accident deaths in South Africa, 2001-2006.South Africa: International Household Survery Network.
  • Road traffic report for the calendar year 2009.
  • Singh H, Dhattarwal S. Pattern and distribution of injuriesin fatal road traffic accidents in Rohtak (Haryana). JIAFM2004;26(1):20-23.
  • Beck L, Dellinger A, O'Neil M. Motor vehicle crash injury rates by mode of travel, United States: using exposure-based methods to quantify differences. Am J Epidemiol 2007 Jul;166(2):212-218.
  • Mahaisavariya M. Musculoskeletal trauma service in Thailand.Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Oct;466(10):2323-2328.
  • Chalya P, Mabula J, Mbelenge N, Ngayomela I, Chandika A, et al.Injury characteristics and outcome of road traffic crash victimsat Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania. J TraumaManag Outcomes. 2012 Feb;6:1-8.
  • Ren-Hao P, Nein-Tzu C, Dachen C, Kuo-Fang H, Yuan-Nian H, et al. Epidemiology of orthopaedic and other injuries among in patients admitted due to traffic accidents: a 10-year nationwide survey in Taiwan. Hindawi. 2014;2014:1-7.
  • Ngcelwane M. New frontiers in the battle against the burden of musculoskeletal trauma from motor vehicle accidents. SA OrthopJ. 2018;17(2):9-10.