EVALUATION OF THE BURDEN ON HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE DUE TO MUSCULOSKELETAL TRAUMA CAUSED BY ROAD TRAFFIC INJURIES

Musculoskeletal trauma caused due to road traffic injuries is one of the major contributors of patient load in most hospitals. Every year, according to the statistics, 1.2 million people are known to die in road accidents worldwide. Millions of others sustain injuries, with some suffering permanent disabilities. No country is spared this toll in lives and suffering, which strikes the young particularly. Enormous human potential is being destroyed, with also grave social and economic consequences.

They have a significant socioeconomic burden in terms of hospital stay, need for several blood and radiological  investigations, the various surgical procedures needed for their management and the duration of utilization of the operation theater, the type of non-operative treatment required for the management of these injuries , involvement of health care workers, bed occupancy premature  deaths, injuries, and lost earning opportunities. Road traffic injuries (RTI) have  a detrimental  effect  on  the economy  in addition  to harming people’s  wellbeing and health. In terms of fatality causes, motor vehicle accidents were ninth (9th) in 2004 and are  expected to  reach fifth (5th) in 2030.1

Pedestrians, passengers, and 2 wheeler users  are the road  users most frequently affected, as  contrast to drivers, who are primarily  responsible for most  fatalities and disability.

The quality of life & economic development in the area are expected to suffer significantly as a result of this rapidly spreading epidemic that targets the young, productive population. In the end, there has been a substantial loss of national wealth.

This study is to investigate the burden on hospital of musculoskeletal trauma caused due to road traffic injuries because there is very little literature on Indian scenarios.