title: [Site of injuries in falls on staircases].
abstract: 52 autopsy cases in combination with falls on staircases examined in the Bonn Institute of Legal Medicine in 1992 to 2000 were evaluated with respect to the query whether the morphological criteria were valid for reconstruction of the fall, in what way facial injuries were involved and whether isolated trunk injuries caused the death. In 80 per cent of all cases the localization of impact on skull and trunk could be deliminated in regards to heaviness of injuries with fractures and involvement of inner organs. Facial injuries were noticed in 50 per cent and were--as well as arm and leg injuries--caused by strike in fall or after impact. In only two cases in consequence of falls on staircases trauma of the trunk led to death by bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Bonn.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Driever
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dettmeyer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madea
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000473:pathology*