Distribution of injuries in fall from height and its relation to height of fall and primary impact

In fall from height, the patterns of external injuries and the types of internal injuries may, together, indicate the primary site of impact and the height from which the fall had occurred. They may therefore be applied to the reconstruction of the fatal events.

This descriptive study was conducted on 102 cases of fall from height brought for autopsy to the mortuary of the department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Fracture of skull and brain injuries were in a lesser proportion, when compared to the reference studies. Subarachnoid haemorrhage was the most common type of intracranial bleed. Chest and various abdominal visceral organ injuries were found. There was no case of primary upper limb impact in the present series.

None of the victims who fell from a height less than 1 metre showed skull fracture or brain contusion. Primary head, neck and buttock impacts were commonly seen in falls from less than 15 metres height. Trunk, lowerlimb and multiple primary impacts were seen in height less than 30 meters. No case of primary lowerlimb impact was present in fall from less than 5 metres height.