TY - JOUR PY - 2012// TI - Etiologic factors in falls from height in pediatric cases JO - European journal of trauma and emergency surgery A1 - Kocak, S. A1 - Dundar, Z. D. A1 - Yavuz, K. A1 - Onal, M. A. A1 - Dikmetas, C. A1 - Girisgin, A. S. A1 - Gul, M. A1 - Cander, B. SP - 313 EP - 317 VL - 38 IS - 3 N2 - OBJECTIVE: In this study, factors causing falls from height and precautions taken for their prevention were investigated.

METHODS: The study was carried out prospectively between June 2009 and June 2010. Patients under 18 years of age presenting at the emergency department of a university hospital, for whom the primary reason for admission was an accidental fall from a height of at least one meter, were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients, the characteristics of the falls, and clinical features were recorded.

RESULTS: Data for 133 patients were evaluated. Among these patients, 72 (54.1%) were male; the median age was 4 (IQR 2-7). The most common fall site was a balcony (38%). Falls frequently happened in the spring and the summer. The mean fall height was 2.9 ± 2.5 m, the median GCS score was 15 (IQR 14-15), and the median PTS was 10 (IQR 9-11). The fall heights was higher in patients who lost consciousness (p < 0.001). Among the 95 patients who were 0-6 years old, it was found that about 55% were unaccompanied by their parents. The most common pathology in the patients was head trauma (63%), while 17.3% had multiple traumas.

CONCLUSION: Since the vast majority of the fall cases were in the pre-school age group, most were due to falls from a balcony, and more than half of the cases were unaccompanied by parents or caregivers, there are two issues that need to be addressed in relation to pediatric falls from height: family education and legal regulations considering child safety in the design of doors, windows, and balconies of buildings.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1863-9933 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00068-011-0172-8 ID - ref1 ER -