An Autopsy-based Study on Pattern of Fatal Injuries in Fall from Height

Falls are the second most common cause of injury-associated mortality after traffic accidents. The present study aims to find out the pattern of injuries among the victims of falls from height. This prospective observational study was conducted among victims of falls from height at SRTR Government Medical College morgue during the period of July 2020 to July 2022. All medico-legal cases involving head injuries brought for autopsy during the study period were included. Exclusion criteria include all medico-legal cases not involving head injury, advanced decomposed bodies, intracranial haemorrhage, infarctions, lesions as a result of natural disease. Various data were collected. A total of 996 autopsies were performed during the study period out of which 48 (4.82%) were cases of fall from height. Among them 30 (62.5%) were male and 18 (37.5%) victims were female. Most of the victims were day labourers or construction workers 16 (33.33%). Most deaths occurred during day time 35 (72.92%) with the highest mortality being due to accidental falls 31 (64.58%). The age of maximum victims was between 31 and 40 years (37.5%). All the victims had multiple abrasions and bruises on their bodies, followed by intracranial haemorrhage 42 (87.5%), laceration 34 (70.84%) among others. In the skull, linear fracture was the most common 26 (54.17%). Temporal bone was the commonest bone to fracture 25 (52.08%) and most of the victims 17 (35.42%) had a subdural haemorrhage. Most common cause of death is due to major injuries overhead 36 (75%). Strategies designed to prevent these falls should have a substantial effect.