KUMJ | VOL. 2 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 8 | OCT-DEC,2004

Victims of road traffic crashes attending the emergency department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital
Dulal P, Khadka SB


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 observationalstudy. 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

Keyword : Road traffic crashes; road traffic injuries; emergency department; Kathmandu