Epidemiological profile and pattern of injuries in road traffic accidents in Moradabad: A prospective study

Background: In many countries, motor vehicle accidents rank first among all fatal accidents. RTAs have got multi-factorial causation. It is a part of the price we pay for our technological progress. Regional differences exist in the pattern of injury sustained by different types of road users that can have significant implications in the development of prevention policies. The objective of the Study: To understand the profile and pattern of injuries sustained and circumstances leading to RTAs in and around Moradabad, U.P. Materials and Methods: After ethical clearance for the study, all RTA victims presenting to the Casualty of TMU Moradabad, U.P. were taken for this study. All relevant details of RTIs were recorded and data collected, entered on a predesigned proforma and then tabulated, analyzed and interpreted statistically. Results: Out of 730 patients included in this study, most common victims were pedestrians (33.01%), most common site of injury was head (86.71%), most common external injury was lacerated wound (46.75%), and intoxication was seen in 24.11%, protective/safety measures used by 10.23%. Conclusion: RTAs continue to be a speedily rising problem, causing heavy loss of manpower and resources. Road users should be properly trained by authorized centers; driving licenses should be issued after strict testing of driving skills. Trauma centers with integrated facility of surgical, orthopedic, neurosurgical, anesthetic experts with modern investigative procedures like USG, CT-Scan and facility of blood-bank is the best solution for RTA victims who are severely injured.