Retrospective Analysis of Injury Patterns from Suicidal High Falls in Taiwan, 2010~2012
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Tsai, Chiu-Lan
Abstract
Fall from height is a common cause of suicidal death in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the injury patterns and age, gender, height of the fall and stopping of the fall in suicidal high falls. The forensic autopsy files from 2010 to 2012 were reviewed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Taiwan. We collected 119 forensic autopsy cases (75 males, 44 females, age range 16-84 years) of fatal falls from height regarding demographic data, findings at the death scene, results of the postmortem examination, psychiatric history, and toxicologic findings. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-squared test, Fisher''s Exact Test, Independent t test and Pearson correlation. Among the 119 cases, there were 77 suicides, 33 accidents, 7 unclarified cases, and 2 suspected homicide. Head injuries were responsible for the majority of deaths. Height was found to be the major factor influencing injury patterns in fatal falls. In our sample, the incidence of the extremities, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, thoracic aorta, and inferior vena cava injuries increased with height. In accident, there were almost exclusively male victims (84.8%). In contrast, gender was nearly equally distributed in suicides (51.9% males, 48.1% females). A history of psychiatric illness, especially depression was present in the suicide more than accident. Suicides had greater falling heights than accidents (mean height 20.64 m for suicides and 12.23 m for accidents). The meaningful statistical difference existed in thoracic vertebra and bilateral extremity fractures between accident and suicide; suicidal victims showed a significantly higher incidence of bilateral extremity fracture when compared to accident. No statistical difference was found in the incidence of vertical deceleration injuries between accident and suicide.
Subjects
Falls from Height
Suicide
Injury Pattern
Type
thesis
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