Abstract:

Road traffic accidents are one of the world's major sources of death and injury, with low- and middle-income nations suffering the most from them, despite having 60% of the world's automobiles. Two-wheeler accidents lead to a high rate of fatalities and severe injuries, disproportionately affecting young, economically active individuals and resulting in a considerable loss of productive life years. The impact of this death toll on society's socioeconomic output is valuable. This study evaluated the causes and patterns of injuries associated with two-wheeler road traffic accidents in the Chengalpattu region. In a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chengalpattu district, 296 two-wheeler RTA victims participated in six-month cross-sectional research from January to June 2023. Interviews with accident victims were conducted using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire intended for injury patterns in road traffic accidents. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22. Among the participants in the study, 17.1% of the cases were linked to traffic accidents; the majority 51.7% occurred in the under-32 age group, and 80.7% of the cases involved males. Head and neck injuries accounted for 54.4% of all injuries, with upper extremities coming in second with 28.4%. During a collision, alcohol was consumed by 25.7% of the drivers who were involved. The majority of accidents, 37.8%, occur during the night hours from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight. The data reveals a concerning trend of head and limb injuries predominating, highlighting the vulnerability of motorcyclists and scooter riders to severe trauma, particularly to the head and extremities.

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