title: Pattern of non-fatal injuries in road traffic crashes in a hilly area: A study from Shimla, North India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What are the various injuries in road traffic crash cases?
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study various non-fatal injuries in road traffic crash cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital based Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised of 401 consecutive cases of non- fatal injuries involved in road traffic crashes and reported at Indira Gandhi Medical College hospital, Shimla.
  
  
  METHODS
  1(st) June 2005 to 31(st) May 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic characteristics of the victims, pattern of injuries and hospital stay of the victims. Types of crashes, time, day and month of crashes, vehicles involved in crashes, use of protective gear etc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentages, Proportions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  73% of the injured victims were young between 20-49yrs, male to female ratio being 5.3:1. Employees (34.7%) and occupants of transport vehicles (45.9%) constituted the maximum number of the victims. Major injuries (fractures and abd. injuries) were reported in 53.4% of the victims and fractures of lower limb were the commonest of the injuries (26.3%). Use of seat-belt was found to be alarmingly low (14.3%) amongst the four- wheeler users and its non-use was found to be significantly associated with the major injuries. Helmet was used by 36 cases (66.7%) out of total of 54 users of motorized two-wheelers at the time of crash. Human error was the most reported cause of crash (82%) and the most common mode of crash was skidding and/rolling down (55%).23.1% of the drivers were reported to have consumed alcohol at the time of crash.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Orthopedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India.
authors.forename: Narinder
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla - 171 005, India.
authors.forename: Meenu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, Kangra, India.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raina
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India.
authors.forename: Lekh Raj
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Orthopedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India.
authors.forename: Salig Ram
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Mazta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Orthopedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: Epidemiological study; injuries; road traffic crashes