TEN YEAR REVIEW OF PATTERN OF INJURIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN OAUTHC ILE-IFE

Abstract

Background: Globally, road traffic accident is the 9th leading cause of death in 2004.
We carried out a study of pattern of injuries in fatal cases seen in our peculiar
environment to provide a baseline data for subsequent comparison in future
studies and help in appropriate application of preventive efforts. The aim of the
study was to determine the pattern of injuries seen in fatal cases of road traffic
accidents in OAUTHC, ILE-IFE from 2000-2009. The objectives were to determine
the pattern of injuries seen in RTA fatalities, to determine the types of victims
(Pedestrian, passenger or motorcyclist), to determine the cause of death and to
relate the above findings with age and sex of the victims.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed files of road traffic accident cases autopsied
at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
from 2000 – 2009. Data on age, sex, position of victim, type of vehicle, place of
accident, cause of accident and pattern of injuries sustained were extracted using
a proforma. Relevant photographs were taken. The information obtained was
analyzed using SPSS 15.0.

II
Results: A total of 628 cases had complete analyzable data. The accidents were
more frequent in Males (498 cases – 79.3%). Females accounted for 130 cases
(20.7%). The mean age of all the victims was 37.4 yrs ± 17.3years standard
deviation. The age of the victims ranged from 1 to 100 years. The most frequently
involved age group was 21-30 years which recorded 170 cases (27%). Passenger
buses were the most common vehicle to be involved in fatal road traffic accident
with 224 cases (37.3%). About half (311) of all the victims were passengers, 30%
(188) were drivers and 18.7% (115) were pedestrians. Subdural haematoma and
subarachnoid haemorrhage were the most commonly observed head injuries and
were found in 287 (45.6%) and 237 (37.7%) cases respectively. The most injured
structure in the chest was the bones of the ribs and fractures of the ribs were found
in 70 cases (11.2%). The most frequently injured intra-abdominal organ was the
spleen (8.1%). The femur was the most commonly fractured bone in the extremity
and accounted for 120 cases (19.1%). Most of the causes of death were due to
multiple injuries and head injuries in 293 (46.6%) and 247 cases (39.3%)
respectively.

Conclusion: Road traffic accident fatalities were more frequent in males and in the
most productive age group 21 to 50 years. The head was the most commonly
injured region of the body and subdural haematoma was the most frequent type
of head injury seen. The femur was the most frequently fractured bone in the
extremities. The most common pathology found in the abdomen was
haemoperitoneum which was mostly caused by injury to the Spleen. The ribs were
the most frequently injured structures in the chest. Injuries to intra-thoracic organs
and vertebrae were very rare. Death was most commonly due to multiple injuries.
Sepsis, pneumonia and embolism are relatively rare causes of death in this study.

TEN YEAR REVIEW OF PATTERN OF INJURIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN OAUTHC ILE-IFE