Injuries caused by falls from trees in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Although falls from trees are rare, the consequences can be severe. Over 13 months in 6 hospitals in Tehran 49 (0.57%) of 8500 registered trauma patients had fallen from trees. The mean age was 31 years (range 6 to 74 years) and 21 (42.9%) were aged < 20 years. Home and recreational/sports grounds were the most common sites of trauma. Most falls occurred during leisure time; only 3 (6.1%) were occupation-related. Eleven patients (22.4%) sustained a fracture of the spinal column; 2 of them became permanently paraplegic and 2 others who had severe thoracic vertebral fractures and paraplegia on first observation were transferred to other hospitals for treatment. Due to the severity of this type of injury, especially among the young, effective preventive efforts may be necessary.
Zargar
M
M
Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Centre, Sina Hospital, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. zargamo@sina.tums.ac.ir
Khaji
A
A
Karbakhsh
M
M
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007899:Leisure Activities; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014197:Trees; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control