Characteristics of chest injury in falls from heights.
This study included 660 victims injured due to high fall. All cases are with injuries caused by the free-fall model of high fall. The range of the heights was from 0 to 70 m. The sample was divided into three groups of growing height: low falls up to 7 m, high falls from 7 to 30 m, and very high falls above 30 m. Statistical analysis was performed using two way ANOVA according to Scheirer-Ray-Hare in complete uneven block. Males were 71% (469), females 29% (191). In the analyzed sample, apart from the height of fall, the number of accidents is about 44% (290 cases) and suicides about 56% (370 cases). Thirty six percent, i.e., 238 of 660 victims had consumed alcohol before death (alcoholemia >0.5 per thousand). The objective of our study was to analyze characteristics of chest injuries made by falling from a height. The frequency of thoracic injuries is statistically significantly related to the height of fall (p<0.05); it increases constantly in falls from heights beyond 3m, so that the rib fractures were present in all falls from heights beyond 40m. The aortic ruptures were found in 21%, and the heart injuries in 16% of all cases. The frequency of aortic and heart ruptures was not statistically significantly related to the height of fall (p>0.05). A rupture of the aorta was the most commonly located on its arch (82%). The heart ruptures were the most commonly located on the atrial posterior wall (70%).
Atanasijevic
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TC
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University School of Medicine, 31a Deligradska Str., 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. bobanvladislav@yahoo.com
Popovic
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VM
Nikolic
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SD
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006341:Heart Rupture / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000473:pathology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data