Publication: Victims of road traffic crashes attending the emergency department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital
Date
2004
Authors
Article Type
Original Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
1812-2027
Volume Title
Pages
Pages: 301 - 306
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objective: To study the epidemiological factors and pattern of impact and injuries in victims of road traffic crashes
visiting the emergency room of an urban teaching hospital in Kathmandu. Design: Retrospective observational
study. Methods and Materials: Review of medical records of all the victims of road traffic crashes of one year.
Results and Conclusion: Victims of road traffic crashes formed 6.2% of all emergency attendees of the hospital.
Two-thirds of the victims came between midday and midnight. The most vulnerable age group to get involved in the
crashes was the 15-to-45-year group, which is also the working age group. Pedestrians constitute approximately
40.0% of the victims. Most of the injuries occurred in the lower extremities. Most impacts were seen in upper and
lower extremities or in head/face region. The non-fatal nature of injuries can be attributed to the low velocity at
which crashes might have occurred.
Key words: Road traffic crashes; road traffic injuries; emergency department; Kathmandu.