Meller J L, Shermeta D W
Department of Surgery, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
Am J Dis Child. 1987 Dec;141(12):1271-5. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1987.04460120033027.
Falls in urban setting are a common cause for emergency room visits in children and adolescents. In a retrospective review, the charts of 48 patients admitted between 1980 and 1985 with a history of a vertical fall from a height were examined. In comparison, a previous review from the same institution disclosed that 66 patients were admitted because of a vertical fall from a height between 1965 and 1974, suggesting an increase of 37.5%. Most children fell from heights of 12 ft or less, although an increasing proportion of children in our series (33%) fell from heights of 36 ft or less. Sites included windows, walls, and roofs. The peak age of incidence has increased from 2 to 6 years; however, the mean age of children in whom significant injury occurred was 7.5 years, with only 27% of children under 3 years of age suffering a documented injury, as opposed to 67% of children over 3 years of age. Children are more apt to suffer a fracture than any other injury, most likely a fracture of the ulna and/or radius. Although hospital costs are high, mortality rates (2%) and the incidence of long-term sequelae (4%) are low. In conclusion, falls in the urban setting continue to be a significant public health problem, particularly in the 6- to 7-year age group.
在城市环境中，跌倒在儿童和青少年前往急诊室就诊的原因中很常见。在一项回顾性研究中，对1980年至1985年间收治的48例有从高处垂直跌落史的患者病历进行了检查。相比之下，同一机构之前的一项回顾显示，1965年至1974年间有66例患者因从高处垂直跌落而入院，这表明增加了37.5%。大多数儿童从12英尺及以下的高度跌落，不过在我们的系列研究中，从36英尺及以下高度跌落的儿童比例在增加（33%）。跌落地点包括窗户、墙壁和屋顶。发病高峰年龄已从2岁增加到6岁；然而，发生严重损伤的儿童平均年龄为7.5岁，3岁以下儿童中只有27%有记录在案的损伤，而3岁以上儿童这一比例为67%。儿童比其他任何损伤更易发生骨折，最常见的可能是尺骨和/或桡骨骨折。虽然住院费用高昂，但死亡率（2%）和长期后遗症发生率（4%）较低。总之，城市环境中的跌倒仍然是一个重大的公共卫生问题，尤其是在6至7岁年龄组。
