Correlation between pattern and mechanism of injury of free fall

To define the pattern of injury and aetiology of death of patients who have sustained major trauma due to high fall and its relationship with the mechanism of free fall. A total of 188 consecutive patients who sustained a high fall were included after the TRAUMASUR database was retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, severity scores, injury type, aetiology of high fall, mortality rate and aetiology of death were analysed. The mean age was 39.7 years (SD 15.5). The main aetiologies were work related (40.4 %) and suicide attempt (22.3 %). The mean injury severity score (ISS) and New Injury Severity Score (NISS) were 27.3 and 34.1, respectively. The most common cause of mortality within the intentional group was exsanguination (66 %), and the most frequent aetiology of death within the non-intentional group was endocranial hypertension (69 %). Differences were found with regard to the pattern of injuries and the aetiology of death according to the mechanism of free fall.