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Medico-Legal Deaths From Road Traffic Accidents In Sagamu, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Road Traffic Accidents (RTA's) are a leading cause of death worldwide. Deaths that occur after the first hour of trauma are regarded as preventable deaths.
Objectives: To evaluate the pattern and causes of death in the first 24hrs after RTA's.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria.
Participants: Patients that died within 24hours from RTA's, including those brought in dead between January 1st 1998 and December 31st 2002.
Main Outcome Measure: Deaths within the first 24hours.
Results: A total of 411 cases were identified in the 5-yr period comprising 316 males and 95 females, with a male:female ratio of 3.3:1. The ages ranged from 8months to 97years with mean age of 34.0 + 14.7years. Motor vehicle drivers with their passengers accounted for 346 (84.2%). Three hundred and four patients (74%) were BID from accident scene. The most common causes of death in those patients BID and those who died within an hour of presentation were skull fractures with intracranial haemorrhages followed by hemoperitoneum. Deaths after 1hour after presentation resulted commonly from hemoperitoneum and splenic rupture.
Conclusion: Head injury and internal visceral lacerations remain important preventable causes of death in the first 24hours following road traffic accidents. A re-organisation of trauma care may be essential in order to prevent these deaths.
Nig. Medical Practitioner Vol. 45(1/2) 2004: 3-5
Objectives: To evaluate the pattern and causes of death in the first 24hrs after RTA's.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria.
Participants: Patients that died within 24hours from RTA's, including those brought in dead between January 1st 1998 and December 31st 2002.
Main Outcome Measure: Deaths within the first 24hours.
Results: A total of 411 cases were identified in the 5-yr period comprising 316 males and 95 females, with a male:female ratio of 3.3:1. The ages ranged from 8months to 97years with mean age of 34.0 + 14.7years. Motor vehicle drivers with their passengers accounted for 346 (84.2%). Three hundred and four patients (74%) were BID from accident scene. The most common causes of death in those patients BID and those who died within an hour of presentation were skull fractures with intracranial haemorrhages followed by hemoperitoneum. Deaths after 1hour after presentation resulted commonly from hemoperitoneum and splenic rupture.
Conclusion: Head injury and internal visceral lacerations remain important preventable causes of death in the first 24hours following road traffic accidents. A re-organisation of trauma care may be essential in order to prevent these deaths.
Nig. Medical Practitioner Vol. 45(1/2) 2004: 3-5
