[Epidemiologic and clinical features of childhood falls].

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for childhood and young adults. Falls are the most common mechanism. for injury children. Aim of this study is to determine the epidemiology and clinical features of falls among children.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed children under 14 years of age sustained from falls admitted to the our emergency service between January 1997- June 2001.

Results: A total of 1039 children were admitted during the study period. Fa/ls comprised 38% these admissions, and 47% of falls were from balconies.252 patients were male and 141 patients were female. Mean age was 5.23. 62.3 % of children were under the 5 years old. Major injuries included head trauma (57%) extremity trauma ( 16%), and abdominal trauma (11%). Mean ISS score was 9.16 and 32% of children had an, 1SS score was 9,16. Overall mortality rate was 2.23 %.

Conclusion: Although falls are the significant cause of childhood injury, these injuries are rarely fatal. Most, common type of injury is head trauma. ISS, age, and height are significantly associated with mortality. Key words: Children, trauma,fa/l, epidemiology, mortality.