Study of Road Traffic Accidents Cases admitted to Ain Shams University Hospitals during Years 2017 and 2018

Abstract

Background: Egypt loses about 12,000 persons every year because of road traffic accidents with mortality rate of 42 deaths per 100 000 populations. Little less than half (48%) of them are four-wheelers passengers and the fifth (20%) are pedestrians. The world health organization estimated that 50 million people are injured, and the worldwide annual road traffic deaths was 1.2 million and continues to rise steadily, reaching 1.35 million in 2016. Aim: This study aimed at determination of pattern and status of Road traffic accidents (RTA) injuries and deaths on an Egyptian sample. Methods: This is a retrospective study on cases of RTA admitted to the Emergency Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals during a two-year period starting from the first of January 2017 till the end of December 2018. Results: In the years 2017 and 2018, 1282 RTA patients were admitted to Ain Shams University Hospitals. The highest proportion of cases was from 20-<30 years. Pedestrians were the most common victims. Almost all cases had the suitable radiological investigation according to the mode of injury, and 46.9% of the cases were presented with lower limb injuries. Most of the patients were treated surgically, and 42.1% of the cases stayed 6 days and more. Head injuries were the main cause of death. Conclusion: RTAs are a considerable problem threatening population safety. Most of Victims were males, in the productive age and pedestrians. Head injury is the most frequent cause of death. Recommendation: Nationally accepted, well-coordinated safety education programs are one of the fundamental steps leading to limiting the problem that costs huge mortalities, morbidities, and property damage.