Patterns of injury

The history of the injury will give a clue to the pattern of the injury. A fall from a height with the casualty landing on their feet will produce a characteristic pattern of injury. This might include bilateral fractures of the calcaneum, pilon fractures of the ankle (the talus is driven up into the lower tibia), depressed fractures of the tibial plateau, central dislocation of the acetabulum and crush fractures of the vertebrae (Fig. 21.2).