Tree-stand-related injuries: a wilderness emergency

摘要

Objective: To determine the mechanisms and patterns of injury due to falls from tree stands associated with hunting, identify risk factors, and suggest injury prevention and control measures.nnDesign: Retrospective medical chart reviews were performed. Telephone interviews were also conducted to obtain additional information.nnPatients: All patients who presented to two emergency departments during a 5-year period after sustaining injury while using tree stands.nnResults: Twenty-four male deer hunters comprised the study group. These 24 patients sustained a variety of injuries, including 7 with vertebral fractures, 6 with extremity fractures, 4 with multiple rib fractures, 3 with pelvic fractures, and 3 with head injuries. These injuries resulted in hospitalization of 16 (66.7%) of the 24 patients and prolonged disability (> 1 month) in 5 patients (20.8%). Average height of fall was 21.1 ft. In 7 (35%) of 20 cases, the fall resulted from mechanical failure of the tree stand or harness. The remaining majority of falls (13/20 or 65%) could be traced to judgment error or careless behavior on behalf of the hunter, usually during ascent or descent of the tree and in the absence of a safety belt.nnConclusions: A significant number of patients presented with a variety of injuries after falls from tree stands. The majority of these injured patients required hospitalization, and a significant percent had prolonged disability. Risk factors associated with these falls were identified.