JORR

The Journal of Orthopedics Research and Rehabilitation welcomes scholarly papers inorthopaedic surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, neurosurgery, neurology and clinic anesthesiology and reanimation. This journal is indexed by indices that are considered international scientific journal indices (DRJI, ESJI, OAJI, etc.). According to the current Associate Professorship criteria, it is within the scope of International Article 1-d. Each article published in this journal corresponds to 5 points.

EndNote Style
Index
Original Article
Traumatic spinal cord injuries due to falls from trees in a tertiary rehabilitation center: a retrospective analysis of causes and outcomes
Aims: Falls from heights are a major cause of spinal cord injury. In developing countries such as Turkey, where fruit picking from trees is an important part of the agricultural economy, falls from trees are common. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the causes and consequences of spinal cord injuries due to falls from trees.
Methods: This retrospective study reviewed cases of spinal cord injury resulting from falls from trees, treated at a tertiary rehabilitation center between March 2020 and November 2023. Data encompassed demographics (age, gender, occupation, education), spinal injury specifics (level, severity), additional injuries, tree fall details (type of tree, height of fall, cause of fall, safety precautions), and treatment details (surgery need, hospital stay duration). The patients who fell from trees were divided into two groups: those who fell from walnut trees and those who fell from other trees, and statistical analyses were performed accordingly.
Results: Among the 49 patients falling from trees, the mean age was 52.3 ± 13.4 years, with 73.5% being male, 32 patients (%65.3) had graduated from primary or secondary school. No safety precautions were taken by any participants. Paraplegia (%87.8) and complete spinal cord injuries (57.1%) were common. Additional injuries occurred in %61.2 of cases. In terms of fall causes, the most common was branch breakage (%57.1), while walnut trees accounted for %44.9 of falls. There was a significant difference in education levels between the group that fell from walnut trees and the group that fell from other trees (p:0.028). Falls from walnut trees resulted in higher fall heights, complete injury rates, and longer hospital stays (p:0.003, p:0.047, p: 0.010).
Conclusion: This study found that spinal cord injuries from falls often lead to additional injuries, with none of the patients taking safety precautions. This study found that walnut trees were the most common cause of spinal cord injury from falling trees. This study highlights the need for improved safety precautions and educational interventions.


1. Algahtany M, McFaull S, Chen L, et al. The changing etiology and epidemiology of traumatic spinal ınjury: a population-based study. <em>World Neurosurg</em>. 2021;149:e116-e127.
2. Barbiellini Amidei C, Salmaso L, Bellio S, Saia M. Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury: a large population-based study. <em>Spinal Cord</em>. 2022;60(9):812-819.
3. Ko&ccedil;yiğit B, Akaltun M, Altındağ &Ouml;, Aydeniz A, G&uuml;rsoy S, Ali G. Spinal kord yaralanmalı hastaların epidemiyolojik ve klinik verileri: merkezimizin beş yıllık deneyimi. <em>J Clin Exp Investigat</em>. 2015;6(2):140-143.
4. Global, regional, and national burden of spinal cord injury, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. <em>Lancet Neurol</em>. 2023;22(11):1026-1047.
5. Hoseini Azizi T, Hejazi SS, Kameli A. Frequency of complications of falling from the walnut tree, as an occupational-seasonal injury. <em>J Inj Violence Res</em>. 2018;10(2):91-96.
6. Ersoy S, Sonmez BM, Yilmaz F, et al. Analysis and injury paterns of walnut tree falls in central anatolia of Turkiye. <em>World J Emerg Surg</em>. 2014;9:42.
7. &Ouml;zkan S, Duman A, Durukan P, Avşaroğulları L, İpek&ccedil;i A, Mutlu A. Features of injuries due to falls from walnut trees. <em>Turk J Emerg Med</em>. 2010;10(2):51-54.
8. Kirshblum S, Snider B, Rupp R, Read MS. Updates of the International Standards for neurologic classification of spinal cord ınjury: 2015 and 2019. <em>Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am</em>. 2020;31(3):319-330.
9. Chen Y, Tang Y, Allen V, DeVivo MJ. Fall-induced spinal cord injury: external causes and implications for prevention. <em>J Spinal Cord Med</em>. 2016;39(1):24-31.
10. Nabi DG, Rashid TS, Kangoo KA, Ahmed DF. Fracture patterns resulting from falls from walnut trees in Kashmir. <em>Injury</em>. 2009;40(6): 591-594.
11. Chen Y, Tang Y, Vogel LC, Devivo MJ. Causes of spinal cord injury. <em>Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil</em>. 2013;19(1):1-8.
12. Javadi SA, Naderi F. Pattern of spine fractures after falling from walnut trees. <em>World Neurosurg</em>. 2013;80(5):e41-e43.
13. G&uuml;ven&ccedil; İ, Kazankaya A. T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;de ceviz &uuml;retimi, dış ticareti ve rekabet g&uuml;c&uuml;. <em>Yuzuncu Yıl Uni J Agricult Sci</em>. 2019;29(3):418-424.
14. Rohani M, Samih M. The efficiency of pheromone traps in attracting and capturing Zeuzera pyrina L. (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in walnut orchards. 2012.
15. Tabish SA, Jan RAFA, Rasool T, Geelani I, Farooq BM. Fall from walnut tree: an occupational hazard. <em>Injury Extra</em>. 2004;35(9):65-67.
16. Yal&ccedil;ın M, Acıcan T, Alibaş K, Ert&uuml;rk &Uuml;, Soylu A, Yaşar A. Ceviz (J. Regia L.) meyvesinin hasadında kullanılan farklı y&ouml;ntemlerin karşılaştırılması. <em>Bah&ccedil;e</em>. 2012;41(2):13-21.
17. Azizi TH, Hejazi SS, Kameli A. Frequency of complications of falling from the walnut tree, as an occupational-seasonal injury. <em>J Injury Violence Res</em>. 2018;10(2):91-96.
18. Baba AN, Paljor SD, Mir NA, et al. Walnut tree falls as a cause of musculoskeletal injury-a study from a tertiary care center in Kashmir. <em>Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg</em>. 2010;16(5):464-468.
19. Ta&ccedil;yıldız AE, &Ccedil;ekmen B, Uzun A, et al. A retrospective analysis of spinal and cranial injury patterns caused by a fall from a tree in the Karab&uuml;k province. <em>Interdiscip Neurosurg</em>. 2022;30:101628.
Volume 2, Issue 4, 2024
Page : 69-74
_Footer