“Oh the weather outside is frightful”: Severe injury secondary to falls while installing residential Christmas lights
Abstract
Introduction
Falls
are an increasingly common source of severe traumatic injury. They now
account for approximately 40% of both overall trauma volumes and
injury-related deaths within Canada. In northern climates, the risk of
all types of falls may increase during the fall/winter months when
conditions become increasingly dangerous. The purpose of this study was
to define the injury and patient demographics of severe trauma that
occurs during falls associated with the installation of Christmas
lights.
Patients and methods
All
patients who were admitted to a referral level 1 trauma center
(2002–2012) with severe injuries (ISS ≥ 12) caused during Christmas
light installation were retrospectively reviewed. Standard statistical
methodology was utilised (p < 0.05 = significant).
Results
A
total of 40 patients were severely injured (95% male; mean age = 55
years; mean ISS = 25.7 (range: 12–75)) while installing Christmas
lights. Injuries included: neurologic (68%), thoracic (68%), spinal
(43%), extremity (40%), and multiple other sites. Fall mechanisms were:
ladder (65%), roof (30%), ground (3%) and railing (3%). Interventions
included intubation and critical care (20%), as well as orthopaedic and
neurosurgical operative repairs (30%). The median length of hospital
stay was 15.6 days (range: 2–165). The fall-related morbidity (28%) and
mortality (5%) were significant with a total of 12.5% patients requiring
transfer to a long-term care or rehabilitation facility.
Conclusions
Falls
while installing Christmas lights during the fall/winter seasons can
result in severe life-altering injuries with considerable morbidity and
mortality. Caution should be employed when installing lights at any
height.
Keywords
- Severe trauma;
- Injury;
- Christmas;
- Falls
