Characteristics and Costs of Ladder Fall Injuries: A Report from a Single Emergency Center in Okayama

Acta Med Okayama. 2015;69(5):275-8. doi: 10.18926/AMO/53673.

Abstract

We sought to identify the incidence, injury patterns, and financial burden of ladder fall injuries to provide a reference for reinforcing guidelines on the prevention of such injuries. We enrolled the patients who were injured in a ladder-related fall and required intensive care between April 2012 and March 2014 at Okayama University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Okayama City:9 patients injured in 7 stepladder falls and 2 straight ladder falls. The median patient age was 69 years, and 8 were males. Six falls occurred in non-occupational settings. Head injuries predominated, and the injury severity score ranged from 2 to 35 (mean=21±12). At the time of discharge from the intensive care unit, one patient had died and 5 patients had some neurological disabilities. The case fatality rate was 11%. The total cost of care during the review period was ¥16,705,794, with a mean cost of ¥1,856,199 per patient. Ladder fall injuries are associated with a high rate of neurological sequelae and pose a financial burden on the health insurance system. A prevention education campaign targeting at older-aged males in non-occupational settings may be a worthwhile health service investment in this community.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / economics*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cost of Illness
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Education as Topic