Injury pattern of feet and lower limbs in a feet-first fall from height.

Abstract

In fatalities caused by falls from height, the analysis of the injury pattern, alongside with circumstantial data, is crucial for understanding the dynamics of the incident. In rare cases, even a differentiation between accidental and intentional events might be possible. The injury pattern of the lower limbs is particularly significant in this context. In the present case - fall from height with primary impact on the feet - fractures of the lower limbs were diagnosed, including comminuted fractures in the middle-distal third of the tibiae and bilateral perforation of both feet and shoes by bone fragments. The longitudinal transmission of high kinetic energy caused by the impact could thus be proven. This specific feature allowed to conduct a complete and accurate assessment of injuries resulting from falls from height.