title: Comparative analysis between identified injuries of victims of fall from height and other mechanisms of closed trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the lesions diagnosed in victims of falls, comparing them with those diagnosed in other mechanisms of blunt trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study of trauma protocol charts (prospectively collected) from 2008 to 2010, including victims of trauma over 13 years of age admitted to the emergency room. The severity of injuries was stratified by the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Variables were compared between the group of victims of falls from height (Group 1) and the other victims of blunt trauma (Group 2). We used the Student t, chi-square and Fisher tests for comparison between groups, considering the value of p <0.05 as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The series comprised 4,532 cases of blunt trauma, of which 555 (12.2%) were victims of falls from height. Severe lesions (AISe"3) were observed in the extremities (17.5%), in the cephalic segment (8.4%), chest (5.5%) and the abdomen (2.9%). Victims of Group 1 had significantly higher mean age, AIS in extremities / pelvis, AIS in the thoracic segment and ISS (p <0.05). The group 1 had significantly (p <0.05) higher incidence of tracheal intubation on admission, pneumothorax, hemothorax, rib fractures, chest drainage, spinal trauma, pelvic fractures, complex pelvic fractures and fractures to the upper limbs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Victims of fall from height had greater anatomic injury severity, greater frequency and severity of lesions in the thoracic segment and extremities.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo.
authors.forename: José Gustavo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Parreira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Marina Raphe
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Matar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Santa Casa de São Paulo.
authors.forename: André Luis Barreto
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tôrres
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Jacqueline A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Perlingeiro
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Silvia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Solda
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo.
authors.forename: José Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Assef
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult