Road traffic accident cases at Bhutan’s national referral hospital: A 13-Year retrospective study (2011–2023)

Abstract

Introduction: Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of mortality worldwide, including in Bhutan. This study reviewed road traffic accident records maintained in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital by to generate actionable insights before digitally archiving key data points and securely disposing of hard-copy records. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included all road traffic accident records from January 2011 to December 2023. Paper-based records were digitized using Google Form and analyzed using SPSS Version 31. Results: There were 3847 RTAs with 41(1.1%) fatalities recorded during the study period. Young adults (20-29 years) accounted for the highest proportion of cases (37.7%). Individuals of Sharchop ethnicity (31.5%) and motor vehicle drivers comprised the largest group of road users (34.0%), followed by pedestrians (24.3%).  Road traffic accidents were higher during summer, on Sundays, within City Core area, and between 15:00 and 18:00 hours. Off-road vehicular accidents (28%) were the most common type and the majority had injuries of extremities (92.4%). Conclusion: Historical medico-legal records provide valuable insights into road traffic accident patterns. Structured and comprehensive digital documentation, integrated with the existing electronic patient information system, is needed to support surveillance, identify high-risk periods and locations, and guide data-driven road safety planning.