An Autopsy-based Study on Cranio-cerebral Injuries Sustained in Fatal Road Traffic Accident Involving Two-wheeler
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jfmt.2026.43.02.08Keywords:
Road traffic accidents, Two-wheeler, Cranio-cerebral injury, Helmet use, AutopsyAbstract
Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of unnatural deaths in India, with two-wheeler users being particularly vulnerable due to lack of physical protection. Cranio-cerebral injuries account for the majority of fatalities in two-wheeler accidents and are of considerable medico-legal importance. The present study was undertaken to analyze the demographic characteristics, injury patterns, helmet use, and causes of death in fatal two-wheeler road traffic accidents based on autopsy findings. This cross-sectional autopsy-based study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Sciences, Manipur from August 2022 to July 2024. All fatal two-wheeler road traffic accident cases with cranio-cerebral injuries were included. Data regarding demographic profile, circumstantial factors, helmet use, injury patterns, and cause of death were analyzed descriptively. Out of 158 road traffic accident autopsies, 40 cases involved fatal two-wheeler accidents with cranio-cerebral injuries. The majority of victims were young adult males, predominantly riders. Helmet use was low, with less than one-fourth of victims wearing helmets at the time of the accident. Intracranial haemorrhage was the most common fatal injury, frequently associated with fractures of the skull, particularly the base of the skull. Non-helmet users constituted the majority of victims who died immediately following the accident. The study highlights the strong association between non-use of helmets, severe cranio-cerebral injuries, and fatal outcomes in two-wheeler accidents. Strengthening enforcement of helmet legislation, promoting road safety awareness, and improving trauma care facilities are crucial to reducing mortality among two-wheeler users.
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