Evaluation of Mortality in Height-Experiencing Falls in Patients with Height and Traffic Accidents

Aim: To evaluate the factors influencing mortality in patients admitted to the emergency department due to falls from height and traffic accidents, based on injury patterns and clinical characteristics. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included 2348 trauma patients who experienced traffic accidents or falls from a height. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were examined. Factors affecting mortality were evaluated using statistical methods. Results: Among the traumas, 90.3% were due to traffic accidents and 9.7% to falls from a height. Patients who fell from a height were found to have a lower Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) score (p=0.002). Hospitalization and mortality rates were higher in patients who fell from heights (p=0.001 and p=0.038, respectively). Mortality was significantly higher in patients with injuries to three or more organs and in those with intracranial injuries (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Mortality is higher in patients who fall from height than in those who are involved in traffic accidents. Parameters directly associated with mortality include craniocerebral, multiorgan, and low GCS scores.