Patterns of head injury among drivers and pillion riders of motorised two-wheeled vehicles in Bangalore

Abstract

Pattern of injuries among pillion riders are not well studied. A limited number of studies do indicate that there is no significant difference in the severity of injuries sustained by pillion riders and drivers. Very few cities in India have mandatory helmet law for pillion riders. The aims of the present study were to study the pattern of head injuries in patients involved in two wheeler accidents and to compare injuries of drivers and pillion riders; drivers with and without helmet. Two hundred and four consecutive patients admitted under trauma unit of NIMHANS (102 pairs of drivers and pillion riders) were included in the study from April to mid-June 2009. In the second part, records of 116 patients who died in a two wheeler accident between July 2008 and July 2009 were retrieved from NIMHANS mortuary and retrospectively analysed. There was no significant difference between the GCS scores of drivers and pillion riders ( mild head injury - 60.8% Vs 74.5%, moderate head injury-32.3% Vs 22.5%, severe head injury- 6.9% Vs 2.9%). Both the groups also did not differ significantly with regards to CT scan findings. Only 44 drivers (43.1%) were wearing helmet at the time of injury. The postmortem study revealed that only 10/83 (12%) drivers were wearing helmet at the time of the fatal accident. To conclude, there is no significant difference between the head injuries sustained by the motorized two wheeler drivers and their pillion riders. Helmets must be made mandatory for pillion riders throughout the country.

A Study on Sociodemographic Profile and Pattern of Injuries in Road Traffic Accidents amongst Pillion Riders in Chennai

“…Skid and fall(66%) was found to be the major cause for the RTAs among pillion riders. According to Nupur pruthi et al most of the accidents had taken place due to skid and fall(45.5%) (8) .The drivers exceeding the speed limits, not following traffic rules and reduced road maintenances are some of the probable reason. In the present study, in 62 victims other than injuries to Head& neck and Upper limb together comprising of 50% , injuries to the lower limb was the common injury.…”

Profile of patients with head injury among vehicular accidents: An experience from a tertiary care centre of India

“…[3] Pathak et al in a similar study in Jaipur found that among TWVPs most of the victims (87.2%) were not wearing any protective helmet at the time of incidence. [4] In our study, only 5.6% females were wearing helmet at the time of accident against 14.7% of males.…”

“…[3,5] When motorcyclists crash at lower speeds, helmets significantly decrease the risk of death but at speeds greater than 50 km/h, there is no added benefit from a helmet. [6] This finding is plausible given that motorcycles crashing at higher speeds may result in overall body injuries not compatible with life regardless of how well the head is protected, or that the energy transfer on crashing above a certain speed overcomes any protective effect of a helmet.…”

Pattern of Injuries in Fatal Two Wheeler Accidents- An Autopsy Study

“…The study conducted by Nupur Pruthi et al observed results contradictory to the above findings, as it showed skid and fall as the most common mode of accident. 20 Harnam Singh et al observed that collision with motor cycles were mostly against heavy vehicles (36.6%) followed by light motor vehicles, cars and jeep (31%). 21 This observation is in agreement with the present study.…”