The incidence and burden of ladder, structure, and scaffolding falls.
OBJECTIVE
The national morbidity and mortality associated with falls from a height is incompletely described. The authors estimated the rates of injury, hospitalization, and mortality due to these falls for subgroups of the U.S. population.


METHODS
Administrative databases (1995-2000) provided national samples of patients treated for injuries following a fall from a height (ICD-9-CM E-codes E881.0, E881.1, or E882). Inpatient data are from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, and emergency department data are from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.


RESULTS
A total of 347,484 (95% confidence interval = 308,417 to 386,551) emergency department presentations occur annually for injuries following a fall. Hospitalized patients older than 75 years of age had a 3.3% case fatality, and 42% were discharged to a skilled nursing facility. For patients older than 55 years of age, 86% of falls were not work related.


CONCLUSIONS
Ladder and structure falls by elders are a substantial emergency department problem warranting thorough clinical evaluation and injury prevention efforts.
Diggs
Brian S
BS
Department of Surgery, L223A, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. diggsb@ohsu.edu
Lenfesty
Barbara
B
Arthur
Melanie
M
Hedges
Jerris R
JR
Newgard
Craig D
CD
Mullins
Richard J
RJ
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*