S Kocak1, Z D Dundar2, K Yavuz1, M A Onal1, C Dikmetas1, A S Girisgin1, M Gul1, B Cander1. 1. Emergency Department, Selcuk University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. 2. Emergency Department, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey. zerdef@hotmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this study, factors causing falls from height and precautions taken for their prevention were investigated. METHODS: The study was carried out prospectively between June 2009 and June 2010. Patients under 18 years of age presenting at the emergency department of a university hospital, for whom the primary reason for admission was an accidental fall from a height of at least one meter, were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients, the characteristics of the falls, and clinical features were recorded. RESULTS: Data for 133 patients were evaluated. Among these patients, 72 (54.1%) were male; the median age was 4 (IQR 2-7). The most common fall site was a balcony (38%). Falls frequently happened in the spring and the summer. The mean fall height was 2.9 ± 2.5 m, the median GCS score was 15 (IQR 14-15), and the median PTS was 10 (IQR 9-11). The fall heights was higher in patients who lost consciousness (p < 0.001). Among the 95 patients who were 0-6 years old, it was found that about 55% were unaccompanied by their parents. The most common pathology in the patients was head trauma (63%), while 17.3% had multiple traumas. CONCLUSION: Since the vast majority of the fall cases were in the pre-school age group, most were due to falls from a balcony, and more than half of the cases were unaccompanied by parents or caregivers, there are two issues that need to be addressed in relation to pediatric falls from height: family education and legal regulations considering child safety in the design of doors, windows, and balconies of buildings.
OBJECTIVE: In this study, factors causing falls from height and precautions taken for their prevention were investigated. METHODS: The study was carried out prospectively between June 2009 and June 2010. Patients under 18 years of age presenting at the emergency department of a university hospital, for whom the primary reason for admission was an accidental fall from a height of at least one meter, were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients, the characteristics of the falls, and clinical features were recorded. RESULTS: Data for 133 patients were evaluated. Among these patients, 72 (54.1%) were male; the median age was 4 (IQR 2-7). The most common fall site was a balcony (38%). Falls frequently happened in the spring and the summer. The mean fall height was 2.9 ± 2.5 m, the median GCS score was 15 (IQR 14-15), and the median PTS was 10 (IQR 9-11). The fall heights was higher in patients who lost consciousness (p < 0.001). Among the 95 patients who were 0-6 years old, it was found that about 55% were unaccompanied by their parents. The most common pathology in the patients was head trauma (63%), while 17.3% had multiple traumas. CONCLUSION: Since the vast majority of the fall cases were in the pre-school age group, most were due to falls from a balcony, and more than half of the cases were unaccompanied by parents or caregivers, there are two issues that need to be addressed in relation to pediatric falls from height: family education and legal regulations considering child safety in the design of doors, windows, and balconies of buildings.
Entities:
Keywords:
Etiology; Fall from height; Multiple trauma; Pediatric; Trauma
Authors: Christoph Nau; Maximilian Leiblein; René D Verboket; Jason A Hörauf; Ramona Sturm; Ingo Marzi; Philipp Störmann Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2021-05-25 Impact factor: 4.241