[Study on pelvic injury mechanisms in road traffic fatalities according to Young-Burgess classification].

OBJECTIVE To explore the pelvic injury mechanisms in road traffic fatalities (RTFs) according to Young-Burgess classification and its practical value in forensic medicine. METHODS Retrospective study was performed on pelvic X-ray radiographs of adult RTFs outside the automobiles in 128 cases. Pelvic injury mechanisms were investigated according to Young-Burgess classification and then were analyzed statistically combined with the real circumstance. RESULTS The accuracy of pelvic injury mechanism identification using APC subtype (94.1%) and LC subtype (92.9%) were significantly higher than that without using subtypes (63.6% and 70.7%) (P<0.05). LC subtype was helpful to discriminate the direction of force, for example the rear lateral force, anterior lateral force or continuous anterior lateral force. CONCLUSION Young-Burgess classification discriminated by various methods of medical imaging may be helpful to study the pelvic injury mechanisms and provide reliable reference for road traffic accidents reconstruction.