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Evaluation of Deaths Caused By Falling From Trees in The Elderly

Year 2018, Volume: 40 Issue: 1, 34 - 39, 16.02.2018
https://doi.org/10.20515/otd.379555

Abstract

In
this study, it was aimed to investigate the deaths caused by falling from trees
during the old age in Eskisehir province and to evaluate it from the forensic
point of view. There has not been any study about this subject in our
city.Twenty-six cases over the age of 65 who died from falling from trees in
Eskisehir during the 20 years period between 1997 and 2016 were retrospectively
evaluated. The cases were evaluated in terms of age, sex, crime scene findings
and death investigation information. It was determined that there were 26 cases
who died during this period of 20 years. It was determined that all of the
cases were male and the average age was 69.3. 24 (92.3%) were found to be in
the countryside. In 21 (80.8%) of the cases, death occurred while the patient
was being treated at the hospital. It was determined that the most common
occurrence was walnut (n = 11, 42.3%) trees off which the cases fell. Falling
from trees was most commonly observed in autumn and summer months. In 21 cases
(80.8%), head trauma was found to be effective in death. The information
obtained in our study is in general compatible with the literature. Deaths due
to falling from trees during old age are not often observed in the practice of
forensic medicine. However, it is among the preventable deaths. In order to
reduce mortality and morbidity in these types of injuries, it is important to
take preventive public health measures especially for the elderly living in
rural areas.

References

  • 1.Eren A, Arslan MM, Hilal A, Çekin N. Adana’da yüksekten düşme sonucu meydana gelen ölüm olguları. Adli Tıp Bülteni 2009;14(1):12-15 2. Türk EE, Tsokos M. Pathologic features of fatal falls from height. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2004;25(3):194-9. 3. Thierauf A, Preuss J, Lignitz E, Madea B: Retrospective analysis of fatal falls. Forensic Sci Int 2010;198(1–3):92–96. 4. Petaros A, Slaus M, Coklo M, Sosa I, Cengija M, Bosnar A: Retrospective analysis of free-fall fractures with regard to height and cause of fall. Forensic Sci Int 2013;226(1–3):290–295 5. Lau G, Ooi PL, Phoon B. Fatal falls from a height: the use of mathematical models to estimate the height of fall from the injuries sustained. Forensic Sci Int 1998;22;93(1):33-44 6. Türk EE, Tsokos M. Blunt cardiac trauma caused by fatal falls from height: an autopsy-based assessment of the injury pattern. J Trauma 2004;57(2):301-4. 7. Avşar A, Okdemir E, Keten A, Karanfil R. Ağaçtan düşmelere bağlı ölümler. Dicle Tıp Dergisi 2015;42(3): 331-4. 8. Tabish SA, Jan RAF, Rasool T, Geelani I, Farooq BM. Fall from walnut tree: an occupational hazard. Injury Extra 2004;35:65-7. 9. Özkan S, Duman A, Durukan P, Avşaroğulları L, İpekçi A, Mutlu A. Ceviz ağacından düşmeye bağlı yaralanmaların özellikleri. Türkiye Acil Tıp Dergisi 2010;10(2), 51-4. 10. Baba AN, Paljor SD, Mir NA, Maajid S, Wani NB, Bhat AH, Bhat JA. Walnut tree falls as a cause of musculoskeletal injury--a study from a tertiary care center in Kashmir. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2010;16(5):464-8. 11.Abou‐Raya, S, ElMeguid, L. A. Road traffic accidents and the elderly. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 2009; 9(3), 290-297. 12.Tosato M, Zamboni V, Ferrini A, Cesari M. The aging process and potential interventions to extend life expectancy. Clin Interv Aging 2007; 2: 401–412. 13.Eser, M., Keten, A., Icme, F., Kilinc, I., Keten, H. S., Kurumu, A. T. Kahramanmaraş, A. H. Investıgatıon Of Traffıc Accıdents In Gerıatrıc Age Group. Turkish Journal Of Geriatrics, 2013; 16(3), 277-280. 14.Hefny AF, Abbas AK, Abu-Zidan FM. Geriatric fall-related injuries. Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(2):554-9. 15.Markogiannakis H, Sanidas E, Messaris E, Koutentakis D, Alpantaki K, Kafetzakis A, et al. Motor vehicle trauma: analysis of injury profiles by road-user category. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(1):27-31. 16.Etehad H, Yousefzadeh-Chabok Sh, Davoudi-Kiakalaye A, Moghadam Dehnadi A, Hemati H, Mohtasham-Amiri Z. Impact of road traffic accidents on the elderly.Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2015 Nov-Dec;61(3):489-93. 17.Langford, J., Fitzharris, M., Koppel, S, Newstead, S. Effectiveness of mandatory license testing for older drivers in reducing crash risk among urban older Australian drivers. Traffic Injury Prevention, 2004;5(4), 326–335. 18.Langford, J., Fitzharris, M., Newstead, S., Koppel, S. Some consequences of different older driver licensing procedures in Australia. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2004;36(6), 993–1001. 19. Tay, R.. Ageing driver licensing requirements and traffic safety. Ageing and Society, 2012;32(4): 655–672. 20. Smith JL, Lengerich EJ, Wood GC. Injuries due to falls from hunters’ tree stands in Pennsylvania. Am J Prev Med 2009;37:433-436. 21. Javadi SA, Naderi F. Pattern of spine fractures after falling from walnut trees. World Neurosurg. 2013;80(5):e41-3. 22. Ersoy S, Sonmez BM, Yilmaz F, Kavalci C, Ozturk D, Altinbilek E, Alagöz F, Cesur F, Yildirim AE, Uckun OM, Akin T. Analysis and injury paterns of walnut tree falls in central anatolia of Turkey. World J Emerg Surg. 2014; 1(9):42 23. Nabi DG, Rashid TS, Kangoo KA, Ahmed DF. Fracture patterns resulting from falls from walnut trees in Kashmir. Injury 2009;40:591-4. 24. Peng TA, Lee CC, Lin JC, Shun CT, Shaw KP, Weng TI. Fatal falls from height in Taiwan.J Forensic Sci. 2014;59(4):978-82

Yaşlılık Döneminde Ağaçtan Düşmeye Bağlı Ölümlerin Değerlendirilmesi

Year 2018, Volume: 40 Issue: 1, 34 - 39, 16.02.2018
https://doi.org/10.20515/otd.379555

Abstract

Bu
çalışmada Eskişehir ilinde meydana gelen, yaşlılık dönemi ağaçtan düşmeye bağlı
ölüm olgularının incelenmesi ve adli tıbbi değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.
İlimizde bu konu ile ilgili yapılan bir çalışma bulunmamaktadır. Eskişehir’de
1997 ile 2016 yılları arasındaki 20 yıllık dönemde ağaçtan düşmeye bağlı ölen
65 yaş üstü 26 olgu retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Olguların yaş,
cinsiyet, olay yerine ait bulgular ve ölene ait soruşturma bilgileri yönünden
değerlendirilmiştir. 20 yıllık dönmede ilimizde yaşlılık döneminde ağaçtan
düşeye bağlı 26 ölüm olgusu olduğu belirlendi. Olguların tümünün erkek olduğu,
Yaş ortalamasının 69,3 olduğu belirlendi. Ağaçtan düşmelerin 24’ünün (% 92,3)
kırsal kesimde meydana geldiği belirlendi. Olguların 21’ünde (% 80,8) ölüm
hastanede tedavi görürken gerçekleşmişti. Olguların en sık ceviz (n= 11, %
42,3) ağacından düşerek öldüğü belirlendi. Ağaçtan düşmelerin en sık sonbahar
ve yaz aylarında görüldüğü tespit edildi. Olguların 21’inde (% 80,8) kafa
travmasının ölümde etkili olduğu belirlendi. 
Çalışmamızda elde edilen bilgiler literatürle genel olarak uyumludur.
Yaşlılık döneminde ağaçtan düşmeye bağlı ölümler adli tıp pratiğinde sık olarak
görülmemektedir. Ancak önlenebilir ölümler arasında yer almaktadır. Bu
yaralanma türlerinde mortalite ve morbiditeyi azaltmak amacıyla özellikle
kırsal alanda yaşayan yaşlılar ile ilgili koruyucu halk sağlığı tedbirlerinin
alınması önem taşımaktadır.

References

  • 1.Eren A, Arslan MM, Hilal A, Çekin N. Adana’da yüksekten düşme sonucu meydana gelen ölüm olguları. Adli Tıp Bülteni 2009;14(1):12-15 2. Türk EE, Tsokos M. Pathologic features of fatal falls from height. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2004;25(3):194-9. 3. Thierauf A, Preuss J, Lignitz E, Madea B: Retrospective analysis of fatal falls. Forensic Sci Int 2010;198(1–3):92–96. 4. Petaros A, Slaus M, Coklo M, Sosa I, Cengija M, Bosnar A: Retrospective analysis of free-fall fractures with regard to height and cause of fall. Forensic Sci Int 2013;226(1–3):290–295 5. Lau G, Ooi PL, Phoon B. Fatal falls from a height: the use of mathematical models to estimate the height of fall from the injuries sustained. Forensic Sci Int 1998;22;93(1):33-44 6. Türk EE, Tsokos M. Blunt cardiac trauma caused by fatal falls from height: an autopsy-based assessment of the injury pattern. J Trauma 2004;57(2):301-4. 7. Avşar A, Okdemir E, Keten A, Karanfil R. Ağaçtan düşmelere bağlı ölümler. Dicle Tıp Dergisi 2015;42(3): 331-4. 8. Tabish SA, Jan RAF, Rasool T, Geelani I, Farooq BM. Fall from walnut tree: an occupational hazard. Injury Extra 2004;35:65-7. 9. Özkan S, Duman A, Durukan P, Avşaroğulları L, İpekçi A, Mutlu A. Ceviz ağacından düşmeye bağlı yaralanmaların özellikleri. Türkiye Acil Tıp Dergisi 2010;10(2), 51-4. 10. Baba AN, Paljor SD, Mir NA, Maajid S, Wani NB, Bhat AH, Bhat JA. Walnut tree falls as a cause of musculoskeletal injury--a study from a tertiary care center in Kashmir. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2010;16(5):464-8. 11.Abou‐Raya, S, ElMeguid, L. A. Road traffic accidents and the elderly. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 2009; 9(3), 290-297. 12.Tosato M, Zamboni V, Ferrini A, Cesari M. The aging process and potential interventions to extend life expectancy. Clin Interv Aging 2007; 2: 401–412. 13.Eser, M., Keten, A., Icme, F., Kilinc, I., Keten, H. S., Kurumu, A. T. Kahramanmaraş, A. H. Investıgatıon Of Traffıc Accıdents In Gerıatrıc Age Group. Turkish Journal Of Geriatrics, 2013; 16(3), 277-280. 14.Hefny AF, Abbas AK, Abu-Zidan FM. Geriatric fall-related injuries. Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(2):554-9. 15.Markogiannakis H, Sanidas E, Messaris E, Koutentakis D, Alpantaki K, Kafetzakis A, et al. Motor vehicle trauma: analysis of injury profiles by road-user category. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(1):27-31. 16.Etehad H, Yousefzadeh-Chabok Sh, Davoudi-Kiakalaye A, Moghadam Dehnadi A, Hemati H, Mohtasham-Amiri Z. Impact of road traffic accidents on the elderly.Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2015 Nov-Dec;61(3):489-93. 17.Langford, J., Fitzharris, M., Koppel, S, Newstead, S. Effectiveness of mandatory license testing for older drivers in reducing crash risk among urban older Australian drivers. Traffic Injury Prevention, 2004;5(4), 326–335. 18.Langford, J., Fitzharris, M., Newstead, S., Koppel, S. Some consequences of different older driver licensing procedures in Australia. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2004;36(6), 993–1001. 19. Tay, R.. Ageing driver licensing requirements and traffic safety. Ageing and Society, 2012;32(4): 655–672. 20. Smith JL, Lengerich EJ, Wood GC. Injuries due to falls from hunters’ tree stands in Pennsylvania. Am J Prev Med 2009;37:433-436. 21. Javadi SA, Naderi F. Pattern of spine fractures after falling from walnut trees. World Neurosurg. 2013;80(5):e41-3. 22. Ersoy S, Sonmez BM, Yilmaz F, Kavalci C, Ozturk D, Altinbilek E, Alagöz F, Cesur F, Yildirim AE, Uckun OM, Akin T. Analysis and injury paterns of walnut tree falls in central anatolia of Turkey. World J Emerg Surg. 2014; 1(9):42 23. Nabi DG, Rashid TS, Kangoo KA, Ahmed DF. Fracture patterns resulting from falls from walnut trees in Kashmir. Injury 2009;40:591-4. 24. Peng TA, Lee CC, Lin JC, Shun CT, Shaw KP, Weng TI. Fatal falls from height in Taiwan.J Forensic Sci. 2014;59(4):978-82
There are 1 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Health Care Administration
Journal Section ORİJİNAL MAKALE
Authors

Kenan Karbeyaz

Meryem Şenlik This is me

Yeşim Yetiş This is me

Ayhan Güneş This is me

Ali Yılmaz This is me

Publication Date February 16, 2018
Published in Issue Year 2018 Volume: 40 Issue: 1

Cite

Vancouver Karbeyaz K, Şenlik M, Yetiş Y, Güneş A, Yılmaz A. Yaşlılık Döneminde Ağaçtan Düşmeye Bağlı Ölümlerin Değerlendirilmesi. Osmangazi Tıp Dergisi. 2018;40(1):34-9.


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