Characteristics and Risk Factors of Fall-down Injuries in Preschool Aged Children

Abstract

Purpose: Falling is one of the most common causes of injury for preschool children. Here, we aim to identify the characteristics and risk factors of injuries by falling-down in preschool children. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2011, we enrolled patients under the age of 7 years, who were injured by falling down and visited an urban regional emergency center. We retrospectively surveyed the medical record of these patients, including age, sex, place and height of fall, type of floor, guardian`s witness, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and fracture of extremities. Results: The odds ratios sex (male), age (under 2 years old), height of fall, type of floor (hard), and guardian`s witness (presence) that resulted in TBI were 1.35 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 0.72?2.55: p=0.352), 3.83 (95% Cl, 1.78?8.65: p<0.05), 6.38 (95% Cl, 3.27-12.44:p<0.05), 3.58 (95% Cl, 0.47-27.30: p=0.218), and 1.47 (95% Cl, 0.63-3.43: p=0.377), respectively. The odds ratios sex (male), age (over 2 years old), height of fall, type of floor (soft), and guardian`s witness (absence) that resulted in fractures were 1.19 (95% Cl, 0.78-1.81: p=0.433), 3.10 (95%Cl, 1.99-4.84: p<0.05), 1.98 (95%Cl, 1.19-3.29: p<0.05), 2.41 (95% Cl, 1.29-4.54: p<0.05), and 1.15 (95%Cl, 0.72-1.85, p=0.554), respectively. Conclusion: In preschool children who experienced an injury from falling down, TBI was increased with younger patients and higher height of fall, but it was not related with patient`s sex, type of floor, and guardian`s witness: conversely, fractures were increased with older patients, higher height of fall, and soft floor, but not related with patient`s sex and guardian`s witness.