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Abstract
We analysed the pattern of injury of 101 adult patients who were treated in our Trauma
Center after a fall from an average height of 7.2 m between 1987 and 1990. In 62 patients
the fall was accidental, and 39 jumped with suicidal intent. The most common injuries
were fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine (83.0 per cent) especially of the
thoracolumbar junction. The pattern of limb injuries is towards a significant preference
of the metaphyseal and epiphyseal parts of the bones of the distal joints (wrist,
elbow, ankle, subtalar). Fractures of the diaphyseal areas and the proximal joints
(shoulder, humerus, hip, femur) were rare. The incidence of thoracic (20.8 per cent)
and pelvic injuries (30.0 per cent) was relatively lower. Blunt abdominal injury (5.9
per cent) was rare after a fall from a great height. Head injuries occurred in only
27 per cent of our patients who all survived their transport to hospital. There is
no significant difference in injury patterns between deliberate and accidental falls,
but there is a higher number of isolated injuries in all patients after unsuccessful
suicidal jumps.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 9,
1996
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Published by Elsevier Inc.
