Medicolegal Patterns of Fatal Head Injuries in Road Traffic Crashes in Jaipur: An Autopsy Based Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Fatal head injuries remain an important forensic and road safety concern in India. We examined demographic characteristics, crash circumstances, and cranial injury patterns among traffic fatalities in Jaipur. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included 150 consecutively selected eligible medicolegal autopsies at SMS Medical College during 2024–2025. Police documents, clinical records, attendant histories, and systematic autopsy examinations provided study data. Results: 117 victims were male. Two-wheeler users accounted for 88 deaths, pedestrians for 34, and four-wheeler occupants for 28. Helmet non-use was recorded in 66 two-wheeler victims. Evening crashes accounted for 65 cases. Fifty-two victims were brought dead, and another 38 survived for up to six hours. Scalp contusion occurred in 92 cases, linear skull fracture in 93, and combined subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 66. Brain contusion was recorded in 74 cases. Injury-category distributions showed no statistically significant association with road-user type in exploratory comparisons. Conclusions: Young men and two-wheeler users predominated. Frequent early deaths and extensive cranial injuries support coordinated prevention, timely trauma care, and systematic forensic documentation. These descriptive findings cannot establish risk or protective-device effectiveness.

Keywords: Road traffic crashes; fatal head injury; medicolegal autopsy; skull fracture; intracranial haemorrhage; road safety