• T Topp, T Müller, I Kiriazidis, R Lefering, S Ruchholtz, Trauma Registry of the German Trauma Society, and C A Kühne.
• Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Gießen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße 1, 35033, Marburg, Germany. tobiastopp@gmail.com.
• Eur J Trauma Emerg S. 2012 Feb 1;38(1):19-24.

PurposeThe suicidal attempt is a significant cause for multiple severe injuries in Germany. The aim of the present study was to obtain information regarding injury patterns, clinical treatment, and outcome.MethodsWe analyzed the data of 4,754 patients of the Trauma Registry of the German Trauma Society (1993-2007) with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥9 after a suicidal jump from a height (SUICIDE) and after an accidental fall from a height (ACCIDENT).ResultsComparing the data of 3,682 patients with accidental fall versus those with intentional fall/jump (n = 1,072), we found that male patients were predominant in the ACCIDENT group (84.9 vs. 52.2%). The SUICIDE group had more severe injuries (ISS: 31.8 vs. 26.4). The ACCIDENT group suffered more severe head injuries (51.1 vs. 36.6%). Mortality (21.4 vs. 14.2%), length of stay in hospital (29.5 vs. 26.5 days), and costs (€34,833 vs. €24,701) were higher in the SUICIDE group.ConclusionsFalls from a height are a common cause of injury among severely injured patients. The resulting trauma composes a particular form of blunt trauma with severe and multiple injuries, which depends on the fact of whether the free fall from a height was caused by an accident or as a result of a suicidal attempt. Taking the injury severity into consideration, there is no difference in the prognosis of the patients.

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