T Topp1, T Müller2, I Kiriazidis2, R Lefering3, S Ruchholtz2, C A Kühne2. 1. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Gießen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße 1, 35033, Marburg, Germany. tobiastopp@gmail.com. 2. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Gießen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße 1, 35033, Marburg, Germany. 3. Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Research in Operative Medicine, University Witten/Herdecke, Cologne, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The suicidal attempt is a significant cause for multiple severe injuries in Germany. The aim of the present study was to obtain information regarding injury patterns, clinical treatment, and outcome. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 4,754 patients of the Trauma Registry of the German Trauma Society (1993-2007) with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 after a suicidal jump from a height (SUICIDE) and after an accidental fall from a height (ACCIDENT). RESULTS: Comparing the data of 3,682 patients with accidental fall versus those with intentional fall/jump (n = 1,072), we found that male patients were predominant in the ACCIDENT group (84.9 vs. 52.2%). The SUICIDE group had more severe injuries (ISS: 31.8 vs. 26.4). The ACCIDENT group suffered more severe head injuries (51.1 vs. 36.6%). Mortality (21.4 vs. 14.2%), length of stay in hospital (29.5 vs. 26.5 days), and costs (€34,833 vs. €24,701) were higher in the SUICIDE group. CONCLUSIONS: Falls from a height are a common cause of injury among severely injured patients. The resulting trauma composes a particular form of blunt trauma with severe and multiple injuries, which depends on the fact of whether the free fall from a height was caused by an accident or as a result of a suicidal attempt. Taking the injury severity into consideration, there is no difference in the prognosis of the patients.
PURPOSE: The suicidal attempt is a significant cause for multiple severe injuries in Germany. The aim of the present study was to obtain information regarding injury patterns, clinical treatment, and outcome. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 4,754 patients of the Trauma Registry of the German Trauma Society (1993-2007) with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 after a suicidal jump from a height (SUICIDE) and after an accidental fall from a height (ACCIDENT). RESULTS: Comparing the data of 3,682 patients with accidental fall versus those with intentional fall/jump (n = 1,072), we found that male patients were predominant in the ACCIDENT group (84.9 vs. 52.2%). The SUICIDE group had more severe injuries (ISS: 31.8 vs. 26.4). The ACCIDENT group suffered more severe head injuries (51.1 vs. 36.6%). Mortality (21.4 vs. 14.2%), length of stay in hospital (29.5 vs. 26.5 days), and costs (€34,833 vs. €24,701) were higher in the SUICIDE group. CONCLUSIONS: Falls from a height are a common cause of injury among severely injured patients. The resulting trauma composes a particular form of blunt trauma with severe and multiple injuries, which depends on the fact of whether the free fall from a height was caused by an accident or as a result of a suicidal attempt. Taking the injury severity into consideration, there is no difference in the prognosis of the patients.
Authors: T Schwermann; M Grotz; M Blanke; S Ruchholtz; R Lefering; J M Graf V d Schulenburg; C Krettek; H C Pape Journal: Unfallchirurg Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 1.000
Authors: A Schmidtke; U Bille-Brahe; D DeLeo; A Kerkhof; T Bjerke; P Crepet; C Haring; K Hawton; J Lönnqvist; K Michel; X Pommereau; I Querejeta; I Phillipe; E Salander-Renberg; B Temesváry; D Wasserman; S Fricke; B Weinacker; J G Sampaio-Faria Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 1996-05 Impact factor: 6.392