TY - JOUR
T1 - Abdominal injuries after high falls: high incidence and increased mortality
AU - van Hensbroek, P. Boele
AU - van Ooijen, M.
AU - Lamers, A. B. G. N.
AU - Ponsen, K.-J.
AU - Goslings, J. C.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Falls from height are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Injuries to the extremities and head are common. However, little has been reported on abdominal injuries or their treatment. This study aims to assess the abdominal injuries, treatment, and mortality after falls from height. We searched our hospital's Trauma registry from January 2004 through December 2007 and identified all patients who fell from five meters or higher. Additional data was extracted from medical records, radiology reports, and operation reports. One hundred and thirty-nine patients (median age 31 years) were included. There were 106 men and 33 women. Forty-one patients had abdominal injuries. Thirteen patients had a retroperitoneal hematoma, eleven had a liver laceration, nine had a kidney laceration, and eight had a spleen laceration. Eleven patients required emergency laparotomy and/or endovascular stenting or coiling to stop the bleeding. Patients with abdominal injuries had a tenfold higher mortality than those without abdominal injuries (19.5% versus 2.0%). Abdominal injuries were common and associated with a tenfold increase in mortality
AB - Falls from height are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Injuries to the extremities and head are common. However, little has been reported on abdominal injuries or their treatment. This study aims to assess the abdominal injuries, treatment, and mortality after falls from height. We searched our hospital's Trauma registry from January 2004 through December 2007 and identified all patients who fell from five meters or higher. Additional data was extracted from medical records, radiology reports, and operation reports. One hundred and thirty-nine patients (median age 31 years) were included. There were 106 men and 33 women. Forty-one patients had abdominal injuries. Thirteen patients had a retroperitoneal hematoma, eleven had a liver laceration, nine had a kidney laceration, and eight had a spleen laceration. Eleven patients required emergency laparotomy and/or endovascular stenting or coiling to stop the bleeding. Patients with abdominal injuries had a tenfold higher mortality than those without abdominal injuries (19.5% versus 2.0%). Abdominal injuries were common and associated with a tenfold increase in mortality
M3 - Article
C2 - 24941711
SN - 0001-5458
VL - 113
SP - 170
EP - 174
JO - Acta chirurgica Belgica
JF - Acta chirurgica Belgica
IS - 3
ER -