Alison Kent1, Andrew Pearce. 1. Emergency Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. doc17@mac.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare differences in demographics and injuries of patients presenting after falls from heights at home and at work. METHOD: A retrospective case series review of patients treated by the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Trauma Service following a fall from a ladder, scaffold, building, or tree between July 2000 and December 2003. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-two patients fulfilled study criteria. The 162 (57.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 48.9-60.5) injured at home were significantly (P < 0.001) older (mean age 53.9 years, 95% CI 51.3-56.7) than those injured at work (mean age 41.2 years, 95% CI 38.6-43.8). Injury severity score (ISS) was similar in the two groups. Those injured at home were more likely to be admitted to hospital and have significantly longer hospital stays (P = 0.003). Thirteen deaths were recorded, eight (61.5%) from home, all over 49 years old. Ladders were implicated in seven (53.8%, 95% CI 26.7-80.9) of the deaths. A 67% (95% CI 55.4-79.0) increase in the number of presentations following falls at home over the study period was significantly greater than the 12.2% (95% CI 10.7-13.7) increase in total trauma presentations during this time (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Injuries resulting from falls at home are increasing. This group tends to be elderly and at risk of significant injury and prolonged hospital stays. Causes are multifactorial and might be related to increased popularity of home renovations. Ladders are implicated in many of these accidents. As emergency physicians we should target this population to educate them in safe ladder use.
OBJECTIVE: To compare differences in demographics and injuries of patients presenting after falls from heights at home and at work. METHOD: A retrospective case series review of patients treated by the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Trauma Service following a fall from a ladder, scaffold, building, or tree between July 2000 and December 2003. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-two patients fulfilled study criteria. The 162 (57.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 48.9-60.5) injured at home were significantly (P < 0.001) older (mean age 53.9 years, 95% CI 51.3-56.7) than those injured at work (mean age 41.2 years, 95% CI 38.6-43.8). Injury severity score (ISS) was similar in the two groups. Those injured at home were more likely to be admitted to hospital and have significantly longer hospital stays (P = 0.003). Thirteen deaths were recorded, eight (61.5%) from home, all over 49 years old. Ladders were implicated in seven (53.8%, 95% CI 26.7-80.9) of the deaths. A 67% (95% CI 55.4-79.0) increase in the number of presentations following falls at home over the study period was significantly greater than the 12.2% (95% CI 10.7-13.7) increase in total trauma presentations during this time (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Injuries resulting from falls at home are increasing. This group tends to be elderly and at risk of significant injury and prolonged hospital stays. Causes are multifactorial and might be related to increased popularity of home renovations. Ladders are implicated in many of these accidents. As emergency physicians we should target this population to educate them in safe ladder use.
Authors: Mazin A Tuma; John R Acerra; Ayman El-Menyar; Hassan Al-Thani; Ammar Al-Hassani; John F Recicar; Wafaa Al Yazeedi; Kimball I Maull Journal: Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci Date: 2013-01
Authors: Hyeji Lee; Sun Hyu Kim; Sang Cheal Lee; Sunpyo Kim; Gyu Chong Cho; Min Joung Kim; Ji Sook Lee; Chul Han Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2018-07-05 Impact factor: 2.153