DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2017.v05i07.001

Pages: 465-472

RTA (road traffic accident) is the third major preventable cause of all deaths. The aim was to study the discrepancies between the clinico–radiological findings and autopsy findings in alleged history of RTA. It was a retrospective observational study done in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department of M.K.C.G Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, Odisha. All autopsies of RTA victim’s undergone medical evaluations during the period from 30th November 2013 to 29th November 2015 were taken into account. The detection rates of all modalities were calculated with reference to the autopsy. All parameters were expressed in percentage and written in table. About 16.2% of RTA deaths undergone medical evaluations were included in the study. The study revealed male, intoxicated, without helmet bike riders were more vulnerable. 89.7% had head & neck injuries and 60.3% deaths had lower limb injuries. The detection rates of CT for haemorrhage, cerebral edema, mass defect, cerebellar lesion were 58.4%, 73.9%, 47.3% and 17.24% respectively. Similarly the detection rate of USG for chest injuries, abdominal injuries, pelvic injuries are 50%, 80% and100% respectively. The detection rate of X-Ray for skull injuries, chest injuries, vertebral injuries were 15.7%, 50% and 40% respectively. Clinical manifestations were in concordance of autopsy findings in 100%, 80%, 0%, 20%, 50% and 93.75% respectively for head, abdomen, pelvic injuries, traumatic paraplegia, lungs and limb injuries. Concealed injuries if any, the diagnosis of which remains obscure clinically and radio-logically, subsequently established at autopsy strongly emphasizes upon careful evaluation of the RTA victims by treating physicians or surgeons so as to enable them to identify the most dangerous injury earlier to initiate life-saving oriented treatment in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality.