Injuries Following Height Versus Ground-Level Falls: A Hospital Registry-Based Study Publisher



Hamouzadeh P¹ ; Baigi V² ; Zafarghandi M² ; Rahimimovaghar V² ; Salamati P² Show Affiliations
Source: Trauma Monthly Published:2025

Abstract

Introduction: Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide, posing a significant public health concern. This study compares injury patterns between patients who fell from height and those who experienced ground-level falls. Methods: This hospital-based registry study analyzed data from Sina Hospital in Tehran, including all patients with fall-related trauma from September 2016 to August 2022. Collected variables included demographics, fall mechanisms, length of hospital stays, intensive care unit admission, intensive care unit length of stay, mortality, Glasgow Coma Score, injured body regions, and injury types. Results: This study included 1,484 patients, with 50.3% experiencing falls from height and 49.7% having ground-level falls. Falls from height were more common among males (80.1%) and individuals aged 18-64 years (77.1%). After adjusting for age and gender, patients who fell from height had a higher rate of moderate head injuries (1.5% vs. 0.3%), longer hospital stays (8.2 vs. 6.9 days), and more frequent injuries to the chest, spine, upper extremities, and multiple traumas compared to ground-level fallers. Forearm fractures were more prevalent among patients who fell from height (21.5% vs. 12.4%), whereas femur fractures were more common in ground-level fallers (42.6% vs. 13.2%). Conclusion: Significant differences exist in injury patterns between falls from height and ground-level falls. Falls from height disproportionately affect males and working-age individuals, leading to a higher incidence of upper extremity injuries, forearm fractures, and multiple traumas. In contrast, ground-level falls are more common among the elderly and result in a higher incidence of lower extremity injuries, particularly femur fractures. Recognizing these differences is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies and improving patient outcomes. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s).