A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF FALL FROM HEIGHT CASES AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Authors

  • Shweta Saroj Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, M.L.N. Medical College, Prayagraj. Author
  • Vedant Kulshrestha Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, U.P.U.M.S. Saifai, Etawah. Author

Keywords:

Fall from Height, Anatomical region, Site of fall

Abstract

Objectives: This study was done to prepare and evaluate complete demographic profile of fall from height cases. Methods: This was a retrospective hospital record based study of fall from height cases brought to our hospital U.P.U.M.S., Saifai, Etawah, during the period from September 2022 to August 2023. The age, gender, domiciliary status, manner, site of fall & anatomical region of injuries and outcome where available were reviewed. Results: There were a total of 314 registered cases of fall from height during the study period, of which 297cases had complete data and were included in the study. Most of the cases of fall from height were in the age group 21 to 30 years 98 (33.00%) followed by 31 to 40 years age group 79 (26.60%). Among the total of 297 studied cases, 182(61.27%) were males. Accidental manner 235(79.12%) was the most common. It was determined that 180(60.60%) of the cases had fallen in their homes. Head and face 258(86.86%) and thorax 207(69.69%) were the most affected region. Injury to vertebral system was observed in 174(58.58%) of cases. Full recovery was the outcome in 166(55.89%) of cases. Conclusion: It was found that most of the cases of fall from height were unintentional and can be avoided. For the purpose of developing targeted preventative interventions, variations in the pattern of injuries by age, gender and fall height are crucial. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Al B, Yýldýrým C, Coban S. Falls from heights in and around the city of Batman. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2009;15(2):141-7.

Atanasijevic TC, Popovic VM, Nikolic SD. Characteristics of chest injury in falls from heights. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2009;11:S315-7.

Behera C, Janani S, Murty OP. Fatal fall from height in South Delhi (1996-2005): a retrospective study. J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2014;31(2):23-6.

Guntheti BK, Singh UP. A study of pattern of injuries in fall from height. J Karnataka Medico Leg Soc. 2016 Jan-Jun;25(1):26-34.

Goren S, Subasi M, Tyrasci Y, Gurkan F. Fatal falls from heights in and around Diyarbakir, Turkey. Forensic Sci Int. 2003;137(1):37-40.

Grivna M, Eid HO, AbuZidan FM. Epidemiology, morbidity and mortality from fall-related injuries in the United Arab Emirates. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2014;22(1):51-7.

Gulati D, Aggarwal AN, Kumar S, et al. Skeletal injuries following unintentional fall from height. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2012;18:141-6.

Haggag OG, et al. Pattern of fatal injuries of fall from height at Great Cairo: A retrospective analytical study (2009–2013). Egypt J Forensic Sci Appl Toxicol. 2016;16(2):97-116.

Jagannatha SR, Pradeep Kumar MV, Naveen Kumar T, Ananda K, Venkatesha VT. Injuries due to fall from height - A retrospective study. J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2010 Jan-Jun;27(1):47-50.

Jain V, Jain S, Dhaon BK. A multifactorial analysis of the epidemiology of injuries from falls from heights. Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2014;4(4):283-287.

Kafadar S, Kafadar H. The medico-legal evaluation of injuries from falls in pediatric age groups. J Forensic Leg Med. 2015;31:52-55.

Kohli A, Banerjee KK. Pattern of injuries in fatal falls from buildings. Med Sci Law. 2006;46(4):335-341.

Kumar JK, Srivastava AK. Pattern of injuries in falls from height. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2013;35(1):971-973.

Lapostolle F, Gere C, Borron SW, Petrovic T, et al. Prognostic factors in victims of falls from height. Crit Care Med. 2005;33(6):1239-1242.

Mekkodathil A, El-Menyar A, Kanbar A, Hakim S, Ahmed K, Siddiqui T, et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of fall-related injuries: A retrospective study. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:1186.

Mirza FH, Parhyar HA, Tirmizi SZ, et al. Fatalities of fall injuries in Karachi: A five-year autopsy-based study. Med Chan. 2013;19(4):53-58.

Murthy CRV, Harish S, Chandra YPG. The study of pattern of injuries in fatal cases of fall from height. AJMS. 2012;5(1):45-52.

Ramadan MM, Elsayed AA, Mahmoud NA, Allam AM. Pitfalls encountered during documentation of cases of fatal falls from height presented to Kafr El Sheikh Medicolegal Department during the period from 1999 to 2013. Ain Shams J Forensic Med Clin Toxicol. 2016;27:105-116.

Roopak SN, Jagannatha SR. Deaths due to fall from height: An autopsy study. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2015;9(1):123-125.

Sharma B, Garg A, Sharma G, Mittal P. Epidemiological and pattern of injuries due to fall from height: A retrospective study. Indian Internet J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2022;20(3-4):53-57.

Suleyman G, Mehmet S, Yasar T, et al. Fatal falls from heights in and around Diyarbakir, Turkey. Forensic Sci Int. 2003;137:37-40.

Thierauf A, Preuß J, Lignitz E, Madea B. Retrospective analysis of fatal falls. Forensic Sci Int. 2010;198(1):92-99.

Toro K, Szlavik N, Meszaros A, et al. Jumping and falling death in children, adolescents, and young adults. J Clin Forensic Med. 2006;13(3):129-134.

Turkoglu A, Sehlikoglu K, Tokdemir M. A study of fatal falls from height. J Forensic Leg Med. 2019;61:17- 21.

Prathapan V, Umadethan B. Fall from heights: Pattern of injuries. Int J Biomed Res. 2015;6(1):8-13.

Downloads

Published

2025-02-01

How to Cite

Saroj, S., & Kulshrestha, V. (2025). A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF FALL FROM HEIGHT CASES AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL . Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 41(2), 179-182. https://jfmtonline.com/index.php/jfmt/article/view/690