Clinical aspects of the disruptive effects of road accidents on the human body.

Knowledge of the patterns of injury from road accidents helps to reduce the risk of diagnostic error through oversight. Understanding the patterns of disruption of the body gives surgeons a better understanding of the nature of the injury and of the behaviour of the injuried tissues. This is of particular value in the diagnostic manipulation of fractures to decide whether they need internal fixation or whether external splintage will keep them in an acceptable position.