Frequency and Characterisation of Intracranial Haemorrhage in All Age Groups Following Road Traffic Accidents: A Cross-Sectional Computed Tomography Study from Tertiary Care Hospitals, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury and intracranial haemorrhage worldwide. Computed Tomography (CT) scan remains the gold-standard diagnostic tool for rapid identification of intracranial bleeds. This study aimed to determine the frequency and pattern of intracranial haemorrhage in patients of all age groups presenting following road traffic accidents. Objective: To determine the frequency of brain haemorrhage in all age groups due to road traffic accidents on CT scan. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Radiology Departments of Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Duration: 3 months. Methods: A total of 41 patients with traumatic head injury referred for cranial CT scan were enrolled. Non-contrast CT scan of the brain was performed in the axial plane with 10 mm slice thickness. Patients with bleeding disorders, those on anticoagulant therapy, history of fall, or other modes of trauma were excluded. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Of 41 patients, 28 (68.29%) were male and 13 (31.70%) were female. Most common age group was 20–40 years (48.78%). Subdural haemorrhage was the most frequent type (20/41; 48.78%), followed by epidural haemorrhage (17/41; 41.46%) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (4/41; 9.75%). Conclusion: Subdural haemorrhage is the most frequent type of intracranial haemorrhage following road traffic accidents. Non-contrast CT scan should be performed promptly in all symptomatic head trauma patients.