Browsing by Author "Manuel José Martínez Orozco"

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    Epidemiological behaviour of fatal injuries in motorcycle riders and passengers from 1 August 1999 to 31 July 2000 at the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Cartagena Local Unit
    (INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE MEDICINA LEGAL Y CIENCIAS FORENSES, 2000) MANUEL JOSE MARTINEZ OROZCO, MD; Manuel José Martínez Orozco; Máximo Alberto Duque Piedrahita
    Descriptive prospective study that analyses the epidemiological behaviour of fatal injuries in motorcycle riders and passengers who underwent forensic autopsy at the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Cartagena local unit, between 1 August 1999 and 31 July 2000. A total of 27 deaths due to motorcycle traffic accidents were reviewed out of 611 autopsies, describing sociodemographic characteristics, circumstances of time, place and manner, alcohol consumption, medical care received and injury patterns. Most victims were young men aged 18–34 years, residents of Cartagena, who were injured mainly at weekends and during night hours on the main roads of the city. In 78% of cases no helmet was used and in 38.5% positive blood alcohol levels were detected. The most frequent immediate causes of death were raised intracranial pressure and acute anaemia, associated with multiple cranial, visceral and limb injuries. The study concludes that mortality from motorcycle accidents is a major public health problem and recommends preventive strategies focused on helmet use, speed and alcohol control, and improvement of emergency care.