Dupatta (Long Scarf) related injuries in female pillion riders in Karachi Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency, type of injuries and reason behind avoidable injuries due to dupatta entrapment in motorcycle wheels among female pillion riders. METHODS: This observational / descriptive study was conducted at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from July 2013 to December 2014, and comprised female patients with dupatta-related motorbike injuries. The patients had injuries around head and neck, face, chest, abdomen, etc. SPSS 11 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 450 dupatta-related injuries, 49(10.89%) patients were admitted, whereas the remainder with minor injuries on neck and other parts of body were primarily managed in the accident and emergency department, detained for observation and discharged after first aid. The mean age was 31.5±19.09 years (range 18 to 45 years). Besides, 37(75.51%) patients were admitted to the orthopaedic department, 5(10.2%) to the ear, nose and throat department, 4(8.16%) to the neurosurgery department and 2(4.08%) to the general surgery department. The number of injuries related to head and neck was 11(23%), face 8(17%), chest, abdomen and pelvic contents 1(2%) each, extremity and pelvic girdle 14(29%) and external injuries 13(28%). CONCLUSIONS: Dupatta entrapment was found to be a common cause of motorcycle accidents.