Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Design and Analysis for Fall Detection System Simplification
Published on: April 6, 2020
Causes and circumstances of fatal falls downstairs
Roman Bux1, Markus Parzeller, Hansjürgen Bratzke
1Centre of Legal Medicine, J.W. Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. bux@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Abstract:
Reports of 9156 autopsies performed at the Centre of Legal Medicine of the J.W. Goethe-University Frankfurt over a period of 10 years were reviewed for fatal accidents of falls downstairs, age, gender, drinking behaviour and alcohol influence, the locality and the time of the accident. Among 43 cases (0.47% of all autopsies) were 31 males (72.1%, average age 63.9 years) and 12 women (27.9%, average age 65.8 years). Twenty-nine accidents (67.4%) occurred at home, in six cases (14.0%) in a public building or area. Twenty-three victims (53.5%) were under the influence of alcohol (average blood alcohol concentrations (BAC): 2.56 per thousand), in 19 persons autopsy revealed severe internal disease which may explain the cause of the fall (severe coronary artery disease, myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, apoplexy, brain tumour). This study indicates that a fatal fall downstairs without an underlying severe disease or alcohol influence is a rare phenomenon.
Related Concept Videos
Flail Chest-I
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...
Free-falling Bodies: Example
The...
Free-falling Bodies: Introduction
Bystander Effect
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
