Stairway-related injuries in children.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the pattern and severity of injury associated with stairway-related falls in children.


METHODS
During a 2-year period, all children less than 5 years of age presenting to the University of Virginia Pediatric Emergency Department with a stairway-related injury were prospectively studied. At the time of the emergency department visit, demographic and epidemiologic information was obtained. Injuries were assigned E codes and N codes. A Modified Injury Severity Scale (MISS) score was calculated for each child. Excluded from the study were children with suspected intentional trauma and children with walker-related stairway injuries.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine children were enrolled in the study. The median age was 2 years. Head and neck injuries occurred in 90% of the patients, extremity injuries in 6%, and truncal injuries in 4%. Injury to more than one body region did not occur. The majority of injuries were minor. Ninety-six percent had a total MISS score < or = 2. Fifteen patients (22%) suffered significant injuries, including concussion in 11 (16%), skull fracture in 5 (7%), cerebral contusion in 2 (3%), subdural hematoma in 1 (1%), and a C-2 fracture in 1 (1%).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of stairway-related injuries are minor. Injuries to the head and neck region predominate. Injuries to multiple body regions are rare. However, significant stairway-related injuries may be more common than previously reported.
Chiaviello
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CT
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908.
Christoph
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RA
Bond
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GR
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*