An Anthropological Examination of the Types of Skeletal Fractures Resulting from Fatal High (˃3 m) Free Falls,

Abstract

Fatal falls from heights (˃3 m) often result in blunt force trauma (BFT) to the skeleton. The fracture patterns that result from this BFT mechanism are well understood in forensic anthropology and forensic pathology; however, details of the specific types of fractures that result remain poorly documented. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed examination of the types of fractures that may result from fatal high falls. Fractures were recorded from 95 full-body postmortem computed tomography scans of individuals known to have died from a high fall. Trauma was then analyzed taking into account the extrinsic and intrinsic variables known to influence a fall using multiple logistic regression. A total of 339 types of fractures were classified, of which 16 were significantly associated with this BFT mechanism. Classified fracture types will augment anthropological interpretations of the circumstances of death from BFT in cases of suspected high falls.

Falls from Great Heights: Risk to Sustain Severe Thoracic and Pelvic Injuries Increases with Height of the Fall

“…The height of the fall determines the impact speed and its consequences. Injury patterns depend firstly on whether the body is slowed down during the fall and secondly on the ground conditions [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Earlier investigations mostly focused on specific body regions or operative treatments. A few, mostly forensic studies, have presented some age-related differences in injury patterns and influences of height and landing position [ 4 , 6 ]. Other investigations are focused on psychiatric diseases or potential intoxication as an underlying cause of the suicide attempts by falls from great heights [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”