Injury Pattern Among Non-fatal Road Traffic Crash Victims

Abstract

Objective: To study and analyse the pattern of injuries among non-fatal road traffic crash victims. Design: Retrospective analytical study. Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi over a six-month period from February to July 2004. Subjects: Road traffic crashes victims treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi during the period under study. Results: One thousand four hundred and twenty four victims of road traffic crashes were treated over a sixmonth period. The male: female ratio was 3:1 and the pedestrians were the majority (69.7%). The commonest injuries were fractures (69.0%) and the tibia/fibula being the most fractured bones (30.3%). Age group 15-44 years was the most affected (81.9%). There was one incidence of a ruptured eye in a passenger. Conclusion: Road traffic injuries are a major cause of death and disability globally with disproportionate number occurring in the developing countries. The most affected age group 15-44 years lead to double tragedy to these countries with loss of productive man-hours and expenditure incurred to treat them.