A retrospective study of pattern of vertebral and spinal injuries in cases of road traffic accidents

Abstract

Vertebral and spinal injuries are the one of the devastating injuries that can happen in one’s life in a case of road traffic accident. Objective-To study various pattern of vertebral and spinal injuries in fatal cases of road traffic accidents. Study design-Cross sectional autopsy based study. Materials and Method-Autopsy done during the period of January 2013 to December 2013. Results-3844 autopsy was done during this period out of these 636(10.9%) cases were of road traffic accidents. Out of these 95(14.9%) cases were associated with vertebral and spinal injuries, majority were males 85(89.5%) followed by female 10(10.5%), 84(88.4%) cases were known and 11(11.6%) cases was unknown. Most of the cases occurred while crossing the road or hit and run to the footpath standers 46(48.4%) followed by drivers (30.5%), 63(66.3%) cases were brought dead and 32(33.7%) cases were hospitalized. Among these 86(90.5%) cases were associated with head injury, chest injury and abdominal injuries, 29(34.1%) cases were associated with upper limb and lower limb fractures.