TY - JOUR
T1 - Falls from ladders
T2 - Age matters more than height
AU - Con, Jorge
AU - Friese, Randall S.
AU - Long, Dustin M.
AU - Zangbar, Bardiya
AU - O'Keeffe, Terence
AU - Joseph, Bellal
AU - Rhee, Peter
AU - Tang, Andrew L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/10/1
Y1 - 2014/10/1
N2 - Background: Falls from ladders account for a significant number of hospital visits. However, the epidemiology, injury pattern, and how age affects such falls are poorly described in the literature.Materials and methods: Patients ≥18 y who suffered falls from ladders over a 5-y period were identified in our trauma registry. Dividing patients into three age groups (18-45, 46-65, and >66 y), we compared demographic characteristics, clinical data, and outcomes including injury pattern and mortality. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with the group 18-45 y as reference; group means were compared with one-way analysis of variance.Results: Of 27,155 trauma patients, 340 (1.3%) had suffered falls from ladders. The average age was 55 y, with a male predominance of 89.3%. Average fall height was 9.8 ft, and mean Injury Severity Score was 10.6. Increasing age was associated with a decrease in the mean fall height (P < 0.001), an increase in the mean Injury Severity Score (P < 0.05), and higher likelihood of admission (>66 y: OR, 5.3; confidence interval [CI], 2.5-11.5). In univariate analysis, patients in the >66-y age group were more likely to sustain traumatic brain injuries (OR, 3.4; CI, 1.5-7.8) and truncal injuries (OR, 3.6; CI, 1.9-7.0) and less likely to sustain hand and/or forearm fractures (OR, 0.3; CI, 0.1-0.9).Conclusions: Older people are particularly vulnerable after falling from ladders. Although they fell from lower heights, the elderly sustained different and more severe injury patterns. Ladder safety education should be particularly tailored at the elderly.
AB - Background: Falls from ladders account for a significant number of hospital visits. However, the epidemiology, injury pattern, and how age affects such falls are poorly described in the literature.Materials and methods: Patients ≥18 y who suffered falls from ladders over a 5-y period were identified in our trauma registry. Dividing patients into three age groups (18-45, 46-65, and >66 y), we compared demographic characteristics, clinical data, and outcomes including injury pattern and mortality. The odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with the group 18-45 y as reference; group means were compared with one-way analysis of variance.Results: Of 27,155 trauma patients, 340 (1.3%) had suffered falls from ladders. The average age was 55 y, with a male predominance of 89.3%. Average fall height was 9.8 ft, and mean Injury Severity Score was 10.6. Increasing age was associated with a decrease in the mean fall height (P < 0.001), an increase in the mean Injury Severity Score (P < 0.05), and higher likelihood of admission (>66 y: OR, 5.3; confidence interval [CI], 2.5-11.5). In univariate analysis, patients in the >66-y age group were more likely to sustain traumatic brain injuries (OR, 3.4; CI, 1.5-7.8) and truncal injuries (OR, 3.6; CI, 1.9-7.0) and less likely to sustain hand and/or forearm fractures (OR, 0.3; CI, 0.1-0.9).Conclusions: Older people are particularly vulnerable after falling from ladders. Although they fell from lower heights, the elderly sustained different and more severe injury patterns. Ladder safety education should be particularly tailored at the elderly.
KW - Extremity fractures
KW - Fall from ladder
KW - Geriatric trauma
KW - Head injuries
KW - Truncal injuries
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jss.2014.05.072
DO - 10.1016/j.jss.2014.05.072
M3 - Article
C2 - 25066188
AN - SCOPUS:84908251691
SN - 0022-4804
VL - 191
SP - 262
EP - 267
JO - Journal of Surgical Research
JF - Journal of Surgical Research
IS - 2
ER -