Tree-stand-related injuries: a wilderness emergency

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.

Design

Retrospective medical chart reviews were performed. Telephone interviews were also conducted to obtain additional information.

Patients: All patients who presented to two emergency departments during a 5-year period after sustaining injury while using tree stands.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.