title: Barking up the wrong tree: injuries due to falls from trees in Solomon Islands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate tree-related injuries in Solomon Islands by the types of trees involved, who is affected and the types of injuries caused.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive case series of all cases of injuries related to trees presenting to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara from 1994 to 2011. Data were collected by the attending clinician using a Trauma Epidemiology form, which provides information on age, sex, cause of injury and type of fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of injuries by tree type, sex and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 7651 injuries in the database, 1107 (14%) were caused by falls from trees. Falls from coconut trees led to the highest number of injuries, followed by falls from mango, guava, apple and nut trees. Overall, 85% of injuries occurred in individuals aged < 20 years. For injuries involving guava trees, 77% of patients were aged < 10 years, compared with 46% for the five most commonly involved tree types. Overall, 71% of injuries occurred among males. Of all injuries, 92% were fractures, 3% were dislocations and 5% were non-fracture, non-dislocation injuries. The arm (including wrist, elbow and hand) was the most common location of injury across all tree types. Distal radius fractures in the forearm were particularly common, as were ulna fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While mangos and guavas are undeniably delicious, the quest for their flesh can be hazardous. Children will always climb trees, but the search for food among children in lower-income settings may lead to higher rates of injury.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. joel.negin@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Negin
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Pavle
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vizintin
authors.affiliation: National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Houasia
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra L C
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Martiniuk
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014197:Trees; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult