Traumatic brain injuries caused by fatal pedestrian-vehicle accidents in Southwest China: An epidemiological survey of five years

In-depth investigations of fatal pedestrian-vehicle accidents provide valuable data for implementing effective emergency services to reduce the pedestrian injury related mortality and strengthening legal measures in peak hours of fatal accidents. We aimed to study, patterns of injuries especially fatal traumatic brain injuries occurring in pedestrian-vehicle accidents. Postmortem reports or clinical records of victims and accident circumstance of road traffic accident were studied and analyzed retrospectively during the period of 2013-2017. Out of total 989 pedestrian-vehicle cases collected during the study period, 678 (68.55%) were of fatal vehicular accidents. The male/female ratio was 1.58:1. Commonest age group affected was between 51-80 years old involving 337 (63.23%) cases. Prehospital mortality was in 371 (56.64%) cases. Fatal traumatic brain injuries were seen in 348 (87.88%) cases. Skull fractures were found in 377 (55.60%) cases of head injury and commonest bone fractured was temporal bone (n=123, 32.63%). The commonest variety of intracranial hemorrhage was subarachnoid hemorrhage (n=87, 69.05%). October month took maximum toll of deaths (n=82, 12.09%) of total accident fatalities in five years duration. 45.19% of fatal accidents occurred at 6-8 AM and 7-9 PM. The results of study emphasize the need to improve the prehospital care with provision of trauma services at site and to enhance the propagation of traffic safety awareness for the elderly.