EXTRADURAL HEMATOMA AND DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY IN VICTIMS OF FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Seven cases of victims of road traffic accidents with extradural haema toma (EH) and diffuse axonal injury (DAI) are reported. Such cases are part of a total of 120 victims of fatal road traffic accidents that w ere subjected to pathological study. The association of the two lesion s occurred in 5.8% of the patients and all cases of EH were associated with DAI. The latter explains the immediate coma (absence of lucid in terval) and the grave prognosis for all seven patients. It was noted t hat EH is relatively infrequent in road traffic accidents, but in such cases it is more severe since it is frequently associated with DAI an d immediate coma.