A Study Of Medicolegal Aspects Of Victims Of Thoracoabdominal Injuries

Abstract

Introduction: Thoraco-abdominal injuries are caused by a wide variety of reasons like road traffic accidents, penetrating trauma, blunt trauma, railway accidents, etc. Materials and Methods:  In the present study analysis of 173 cases of thoracoabdominal injuries, including 118 cases admitted at S.N. Medical College, Agra, for treatment. Out of 118 patients, 38 died during treatment in the hospital and 55 victims were brought dead because of thoracoabdominal injuries. The present study was conducted in the emergency and mortuary, during the period of 1½ years from Nov. 2013 to June 2015. Data obtained is reviewed and analyzed according to age-wise, gender-wise distribution, manner of death, and contributing factors. Results: In the present study thoracoabdominal injuries account for 0.38% of total admission to the hospital. Mortality amongst the victims of thoraco-abdominal injuries was 53.73%. The most commonly involved age group was 21 to 40 years and this group accounts for 53.75% of victims. The present study shows Male predominance in the ratio of 4.8:1. Among social factors which were analysed. It revealed that significant numbers of victims were married, laborers, and educated up to the higher secondary and low socioeconomic group. The most common manner of the thoracoabdominal injuries was accidental in nature followed by homicide and suicide. In cases of fatal thoraco-abdominal injuries, the majority of the victims either died on the spot or before reaching to hospital during transportation. Conclusion: In the present study it was concluded that thoracoabdominal injuries constitute potential factors in increasing amount of morbidity and mortality.