@article{ref1,
title="Fatal head injuries in ground-level falls",
journal="American journal of forensic medicine and pathology",
year="1997",
author="Hartshorne, N. J. and Harruff, R. C. and Alvord, E. C.",
volume="18",
number="3",
pages="258-264",
abstract="We analyzed 75 cases of fatal ground-level falls that were investigated by the King County Medical Examiner over a 48-month period, with autopsies performed on 87% of the deaths: 69% of the cases were men and 61% occurred in ages > or = 70 years; only 12% were aged < 50 years, with the youngest aged 28 years. Most of the falls occurred in or about the residence, and many individuals were known to have fallen onto hard surfaces. In 77% of cases there was significant pre-existing natural disease, mostly cardiovascular disease. Liver disease was more frequently a contributing factor in those aged < 50 years. Ethanol was present in 48% of those cases tested, more frequently present in men than in women. Basal skull fractures were present in 37% of cases, and acute subdural hematomas, the most common intracranial lesion, were present in 85%. We concluded that fatal ground-level falls were much more common in elderly persons, owing to a greater predisposition to falling, as well as intrinsic age-related changes, including a greater susceptibility to acute subdural hematoma.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-7910",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}