TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1997//
TI  - Fatal head injuries in ground-level falls
JO  - American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
A1  - Hartshorne, N. J.
A1  - Harruff, R. C.
A1  - Alvord, E. C.
SP  - 258
EP  - 264
VL  - 18
IS  - 3
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0195-7910
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -