Prevalencia y aspectos medicolegales de los accidentes de tránsito registrados en la Fiscalía del Azuay, enero 2018 – diciembre 2020

Abstract

Background: Traffic accidents (TA) are a public health problem; due to the high morbidity and mortality they represent. Each year there are about 1.3 million fatalities and the same have significant injuries that generate disability, raising medicolegal aspects of interest. Objective: To determine the prevalence and medico-legal aspects of traffic accidents registered in the Azuay Prosecutor's Office, January 2018 – December 2020. Methodology: Retrospective cross-sectional observational descriptive study. We worked with a population of 315 cases per TA that met the inclusion criteria. The data were collected based on a form made by the researcher, then tabulated and analysed in SPSS 15. The results are presented in tables and graphs of frequency and percentage. Results: The prevalence of traffic accidents in the province of Azuay is 9.33%, single men aged between 20 and 39 years are mostly involved (53.1%), the human factor is the main cause (95%), collision between vehicles and hit-and-run are the most frequent types, common injuries are fractures of lower limbs with a (28.8%), produce a work disability of between 30 to more than 90 days (56.2%), which are related to low levels of disability. Injuries from higher centers is the cause of death of the patient victim of TA. Conclusion: The TA occur in young men, users of 4-wheeled vehicles and motorcyclists, the fracture of lower limbs is the most frequent followed by that of upper limbs and external injuries, generating incapacity for work between 30 or more than 90 days, most of the injuries are resolved.