[Injury pattern in leaps from a window. A case analysis of 48 patients]

We report about 48 patients who sustained a deceleration trauma after jumping out of a window. The average free fall height was 11.6 m. 45.8% of the patients suffered from psychic disorders. 12.5% were addicted to opiates or hallucinogenics. The lethality of the analysed group was 12.5%. Within the group of spinal injuries (66.7%) compression- and bursting vertebra fractures of the thoracolumbar spine dominate. Injuries of the osseus pelvic ring (62.5%) and the thorax (64.6%) were equally often in all free falls. Abdominal- (25%) and head trauma (35.4%) occurred less at the patients in our clinic. At the extremities a predeliction of injuries of joint near and joint building osseus structures was noticeable. Out of the 103 injuries of the lower extremities 57.3% concerned foot, ankle and the distal lower leg. With increasing height of the falls the rate of multi-injuries and chain fractures raised. Out of the 37 injuries of the upper extremities 40.5% concerned hand and distal forearm and 29.7% the elbow.