International Archives of Integrated Medicine, 1(1), September, 2014 Fatal craniocerebral injuries in victims who survi

Fatal craniocerebral injuries in victims who survived for some period Original Research Article Fatal craniocerebral injuries in victims who survived for some period O. Gambhir Singh1* Hemalatha N.2 1 Associate Professor, 2 Associate Professor S.R.M. Medical College, Potheri, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu - 603203 Abstract It is a prospective study of 50 fatal head injury cases whose medico legal autopsy was done in the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai from December 2007 to June 2008. There were total 50 cases of fatal craniocerebral injuries which needed admission either in Intensive Care Unit or neurosurgery. In the present study, male victims (47 cases, 96%) outnumbered female victims (3 cases, 6%) with an approximate male male-female ratio of 16:1. Road traffic accidents (RTA) involving mainly pedestrians and two wheeler users were the most cidents common cause of fatal head injury, seen in 43 cases (86%). Out of the total 50 cases of fatal head injury, brain stem injury was seen in 41 cases (82%). Skull bone fracture was found in 26 cases (52%), 11 cases were associated with primary brain stem injury and 15 cases with the secondary brain stem injury. Temporal and parietal bones were the common site of fracture, observed in 17 cases (34%). The range of survival period was wide, spreading from 6 hours to 600 hours; the mean survival wide, period being 73.42 hours. Brain stem injury, which is generally associated with skull base fracture, was found to be the main factor governing the prognosis of the case. Key words Head injury, Primary brain stem injury, Secondary brain stem injury, Road Traffic Accident Accident. Introduction Craniocerebral injuries (also known as head injuries) are one of the most fatal and common regional injuries ever known to human beings since time immemorial [1]. *Corresponding Author: O. Gambhir Singh Singh, S.R.M. Medical College, Tamil Nadu India. Nadu, E mail: [email protected] Received on: 19-08-2014 Revised on: 28-08-2014 Accepted on: 04-09-2014 In the modern era also they are increasingly encountered daily worldwide. Notwithstandi Notwithstanding developing countries like India fatal head injuries are now becoming the most common cause of death from trauma worldwide. It has a huge medical, social and economical bearing on the country as it involves especially younger age group population [2]. How to cite this article: O. Gambhir Singh, Hemalatha N. Fatal craniocerebral injuries in victims who survived for some period. IAIM, 2014; 1(1): 1-6. Available online at www.iaimjournal.com International Archives of Integrated Medicine, Vol. 1, Issue. 1, September, 2014. Copy right © 2014, IAIM, All Rights Reserved. Page 1