Evaluation of Mortality in Height-Experiencing Falls in Patients with Height and Traffic Accidents

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the factors influencing mortality in patients admitted to the emergency department due to falls from height and traffic accidents, based on injury patterns and clinical characteristics. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included 2348 trauma patients who experienced traffic accidents or falls from a height. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were examined. Factors affecting mortality were evaluated using statistical methods. Results: Among the traumas, 90.3% were due to traffic accidents and 9.7% to falls from a height. Patients who fell from a height were found to have a lower Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) score (p=0.002). Hospitalization and mortality rates were higher in patients who fell from heights (p=0.001 and p=0.038, respectively). Mortality was significantly higher in patients with injuries to three or more organs and in those with intracranial injuries (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Mortality is higher in patients who fall from height than in those who are involved in traffic accidents. Parameters directly associated with mortality include craniocerebral, multiorgan, and low GCS scores.

Keywords

• traffic accident
• fall from height
• mortality
• trauma