Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention

Background: Traumatic occipital bone fractures from two-wheeler road traffic accidents (RTAs) are significant public health concerns due to their high morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study investigates the epidemiology and outcomes of these injuries, focusing on demographic characteristics, injur...

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Main Authors: Robert Mark Wallang, R Giridharan, T. Arunan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Saudi Journal for Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjhs.sjhs_105_24
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author Robert Mark Wallang
R Giridharan
T. Arunan
author_facet Robert Mark Wallang
R Giridharan
T. Arunan
author_sort Robert Mark Wallang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Traumatic occipital bone fractures from two-wheeler road traffic accidents (RTAs) are significant public health concerns due to their high morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study investigates the epidemiology and outcomes of these injuries, focusing on demographic characteristics, injury patterns, alcohol consumption, helmet use, and management strategies. Methods: This study was carried out at a regional referral center, including patients admitted with traumatic occipital bone fractures due to two-wheeler RTAs. Data on demographics, injury details, alcohol consumption, helmet use, management approaches, and patient outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: The study comprised 60 patients with a mean age of 41.3 ± 15.6 years, predominantly male (80%). Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with poorer outcomes, including a higher sudden death rate (P = 0.047) and overall mortality (P = 0.040). Of the patients who consumed alcohol, 88.9% were riders without helmets, compounding the risk. The most common diagnoses were frontal hemorrhagic contusion (56.7%) and subdural hematoma (30%). Conservative management was more common among survivors (68.2%), while a higher proportion of nonsurvivors underwent surgical intervention (60.0%), though these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption and lack of helmet use are associated with significantly higher mortality and severe outcomes in traumatic occipital bone fractures from two-wheeler RTAs. The findings underscore the necessity of public health initiatives to encourage helmet usage and curtail alcohol-impaired driving. Additional research is required to investigate the influence of treatment approaches on patient outcomes.
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2278-0521
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spelling doaj-art-5bf1ed0317254105a5a8575aed45607e2025-02-06T07:26:05ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsSaudi Journal for Health Sciences2278-19002278-05212024-12-0113324424810.4103/sjhs.sjhs_105_24Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for preventionRobert Mark WallangR GiridharanT. ArunanBackground: Traumatic occipital bone fractures from two-wheeler road traffic accidents (RTAs) are significant public health concerns due to their high morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study investigates the epidemiology and outcomes of these injuries, focusing on demographic characteristics, injury patterns, alcohol consumption, helmet use, and management strategies. Methods: This study was carried out at a regional referral center, including patients admitted with traumatic occipital bone fractures due to two-wheeler RTAs. Data on demographics, injury details, alcohol consumption, helmet use, management approaches, and patient outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: The study comprised 60 patients with a mean age of 41.3 ± 15.6 years, predominantly male (80%). Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with poorer outcomes, including a higher sudden death rate (P = 0.047) and overall mortality (P = 0.040). Of the patients who consumed alcohol, 88.9% were riders without helmets, compounding the risk. The most common diagnoses were frontal hemorrhagic contusion (56.7%) and subdural hematoma (30%). Conservative management was more common among survivors (68.2%), while a higher proportion of nonsurvivors underwent surgical intervention (60.0%), though these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption and lack of helmet use are associated with significantly higher mortality and severe outcomes in traumatic occipital bone fractures from two-wheeler RTAs. The findings underscore the necessity of public health initiatives to encourage helmet usage and curtail alcohol-impaired driving. Additional research is required to investigate the influence of treatment approaches on patient outcomes.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjhs.sjhs_105_24alcohol consumptionhelmetsmotorcycle accidentsoccipital bone
spellingShingle Robert Mark Wallang
R Giridharan
T. Arunan
Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
Saudi Journal for Health Sciences
alcohol consumption
helmets
motorcycle accidents
occipital bone
title Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
title_full Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
title_fullStr Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
title_full_unstemmed Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
title_short Occipital bone fractures in two-wheeler road traffic accidents: Understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
title_sort occipital bone fractures in two wheeler road traffic accidents understanding contrecoup brain injuries and implications for prevention
topic alcohol consumption
helmets
motorcycle accidents
occipital bone
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/sjhs.sjhs_105_24
work_keys_str_mv AT robertmarkwallang occipitalbonefracturesintwowheelerroadtrafficaccidentsunderstandingcontrecoupbraininjuriesandimplicationsforprevention
AT rgiridharan occipitalbonefracturesintwowheelerroadtrafficaccidentsunderstandingcontrecoupbraininjuriesandimplicationsforprevention
AT tarunan occipitalbonefracturesintwowheelerroadtrafficaccidentsunderstandingcontrecoupbraininjuriesandimplicationsforprevention