Citation

Liu CC, Wang CY, Shih HC, Wen YS, Wu JJ, Huang CI, Hsu HS, Huang MH, Huang MS. Injury 2009; 40(6): 595-597.

Affiliation

Division of Trauma of Emergency Department, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Shih-pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2008.11.014

PMID

19375698

Abstract

AIM: To identify the potential prognostic factors for mortality after falls from height. METHOD: A retrospective clinical observational study included victims of fall of >6m from October 2000 to December 2007. Variables studied comprised each casualty's age, gender, height of fall, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Abbreviated Injury Scale scores, Injury Severity Score, heart rate, Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), White Blood Cell (WBC) count, haemoglobin, serum glucose, Creatine Kinase and duration of hospital stay. The relationships between these variables and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 66 patients studied the mortality rate was 22.7%, i.e. 7 out-of-hospital and 8 in-hospital deaths. In univariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Score /=16, head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score >/=4, chest Abbreviated Injury Scale score >/=4, heart rate >/=100 or /=140mg/dl were significantly related to mortality. In multivariate analysis, head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score >/=4 was independently correlated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Severe head injury (head/neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score >/=4) is a significant factor for mortality following falls from >6m.

Language: en