Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas, USA.
Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2012 May;31(5):427-34. doi: 10.1590/s1020-49892012000500011.
To compare demographics and motivations for falls from bridges at the United States-Mexico border and in El Paso County, Texas, and to analyze injuries and injury patterns to support intentionality and to provide treatment recommendations.
A retrospective observational review was conducted of hospital admissions to a trauma center after falls from bridges from 1995 to 2009. Statistical methods used were chi-square testing, T-test for means comparison, univariate correlations, and regression analysis.
Of the 97 evaluated patients, 81.4% fell from U.S.-Mexico border bridges, including one patient who fell from a railway bridge; 74.7% of those falling from border bridges had a non-U.S. address, contrasting with 22.2% of those who fell within the United States. Falls over the border were associated with more immigration-related motivations and fewer suicide attempts. Injuries included lower extremities in 76 (78.4%) and thoracolumbar spine in 27 (27.8%) patients; 16 patients with a thoracolumbar spine fracture (59.3%) also had a lower extremity injury. Mean hospital length of stay was 7.2 days. Mean injury severity score was 8.45 (range 1-43). Age, injury severity score, and pelvic fracture increased the hospital length of stay.
Patients fell while emigrating-immigrating based on residence and motivating factors. A dyad of lower extremity and thoracolumbar spine injuries coincided in 59.3% of those with a thoracolumbar spine injury; thoracolumbar spine imaging of patients evaluated after falls from bridges is recommended. Proposed prevention strategies include posting signs on bridges and installing catch-net safety barriers.
比较美国-墨西哥边境和德克萨斯州埃尔帕索县桥梁坠落的人口统计学和动机，并分析损伤和损伤模式，以支持故意性并提供治疗建议。
对 1995 年至 2009 年因从桥梁坠落而住院的创伤中心进行回顾性观察性研究。使用的统计方法包括卡方检验、均值比较的 T 检验、单变量相关性和回归分析。
在 97 名接受评估的患者中，81.4%从美国-墨西哥边境桥梁坠落，其中 1 名患者从铁路桥上坠落；从边境桥梁坠落的患者中，有 74.7%的人没有美国地址，而在美国境内坠落的患者中只有 22.2%。越境坠落与更多与移民有关的动机和更少的自杀企图有关。受伤包括下肢 76 例（78.4%）和胸腰椎 27 例（27.8%）；16 例胸腰椎骨折患者（59.3%）还伴有下肢损伤。平均住院时间为 7.2 天。平均损伤严重程度评分 8.45（范围 1-43）。年龄、损伤严重程度评分和骨盆骨折增加了住院时间。
根据居住地和动机因素，患者在移民-移民过程中坠落。59.3%的胸腰椎骨折患者同时伴有下肢和胸腰椎损伤；建议对从桥梁坠落的患者进行胸腰椎影像学检查。建议的预防策略包括在桥梁上张贴标志和安装网兜安全护栏。
