Survival following a vertical free fall from 300 feet: the crucial role of body position to impact surface.
We report the case of a 28-year old rock climber who survived an "unsurvivable" injury consisting of a vertical free fall from 300 feet onto a solid rock surface. The trauma mechanism and injury kinetics are analyzed, with a particular focus on the relevance of body positioning to ground surface at the time of impact. The role of early patient transfer to a level 1 trauma center, and "damage control" management protocols for avoiding delayed morbidity and mortality in this critically injured patient are discussed.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, 777 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, USA.
Sebastian
S
Weckbach
Michael A
MA
Flierl
Michael
M
Blei
Clay Cothren
CC
Burlew
Ernest E
EE
Moore
Philip F
PF
Stahel
D000054:Acceleration; D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D001830:Body Surface Area; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000293:injuries*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D011482:Protective Devices