The pattern of fatal injuries of fall from height: A 10-year study

Fatal falls from heights rank as the second leading cause of unnatural deaths, following road traffic accidents. Victims exhibit distinct injury patterns influenced by multiple factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pattern of fatal injuries resulting from falls from height in medicolegal autopsies.

We reviewed 340 autopsies records conducted at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre for ten years from 2010 to 2019. Statistical analysis was performed on socio-demographic data, cause and manner of death, fall height, primary impact, toxicological analysis, and psychiatric illness.

A total of 340 cases comprising 246 males and 94 females, representing 175 Chinese, 106 non-Malaysians, 28 Malays, 27 Indians, and two Bumiputeras Sabahan/Sarawakian. Their ages ranged from 5 months to 86 years old. The findings revealed that most deceased were males aged between 19 and 40. The primary locations of falls were reported within the home (77.9%) and workplace (16.8%). In cases of falls from significant heights, multiple injuries were the leading cause of death (71.4%), with 68.3% of these incidents classified as suicides. Head injuries were prevalent in falls from lower elevations (42.3%), particularly in accidental scenarios (34.9%). In 80% of cases, toxicological analysis yielded negative results, with alcohol being the most frequently detected substance (30.9%).

This study revealed that most injuries were linked to suicide. Hence, it is crucial to implement preventive measures to raise awareness among the public and mitigate similar incidents in the future.