Assault Injuries Research Articles

Analysis of emergency centre recidivism for interpersonal violence in a district-level hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Interpersonal violence is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and upper-middle-income countries. It is postulated that a significant portion of these patients have repeated presentations to an already overburdened healthcare system. Data describing the burden of interpersonal violence recidivism are poor. To determine and describe the burden of emergency centre recidivism for interpersonal violent injury presenting to Khayelitsha Hospital, Cape Town, over a 2-year period. An analysis of a prospectively collected observational database combined with a retrospective chart review was conducted of all trauma patients who presented to Khayelitsha Hospital from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2022. All patients (aged ≥14 years) with ≥2 presentations for interpersonal violence-related injuries were included. Cases were limited to the inclusion of mechanisms of injury attributable to stab wounds, blunt assault, firearm injury and gender-based violence. Recidivist cases were identified by repeat hospital number on the electronic hospital patient system. Repeat cases were manually reviewed for inclusion. Summary statistics are used to describe all variables. In total, 10 218 interpersonal violence presentations were identified over the study period, and 1 125 (11.0%) were attributed to recidivists (522 patients). The mean (standard deviation) age was 30 (7.7) years, and most were male (n=463, 88.7%). Stab wounds (n=583, 51.8%) and blunt assault injuries (n=456, 40.5%) were the main mechanisms of injury. Repeat presentation occurred within a median of 198 (25th - 75th percentile, 81.5 - 373.9) days. A total of 337 (64.6%) patients presented with higher acuity at one of their subsequent visits. Recidivist presentations represent a significant proportion of interpersonally violently injured patients, and are likely to be under-documented. Recidivism poses a measurable burden, and further research is needed to facilitate the identification of at-risk individuals, and specific secondary prevention strategies should be developed to prevent or reduce escalating patterns of injury associated with interpersonal violence.

Emergency Department Utilization for Postpartum Behavioral Health Problems and Assault Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: Distinctive stressors facing pregnant and postpartum individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected their emergency department (ED) care-seeking for behavioral health concerns and violence victimization. We tested whether the incidence of postpartum behavioral health and assault injury ED visits differed for individuals according to their months of postpartum pandemic exposure. Methods: We used statewide, longitudinally linked hospital and ED administrative claims data from California to classify all individuals with hospital deliveries between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, according to their months of postpartum pandemic exposure. Outcomes comprised 12-month incidence of any ED visit for a psychiatric disorder, drug use disorder/overdose, alcohol use disorder/intoxication, or assault injury, defined using International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification, version 10 codes. Risk ratios compared the incidence of each outcome among people with 1-12 months of postpartum pandemic exposure to those with 0 months of exposure. Results: Compared to people with 0 months of postpartum pandemic exposure (n = 1,163,215), delivering people with 1-12 month' exposure (range: n = 26,836 to n = 273,561) were approximately equally likely to have a postpartum ED visit for a psychiatric disorder, drug use disorder, or alcohol use disorder, after adjusting for demographic differences (most p > 0.10). The incidence of assault injury was significantly lower among delivering individuals with 11 or 12 months of pandemic exposure (RRadj = 0.70 and 0.91, respectively; both p < 0.01) compared to those with 0 months. Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, the pandemic did not appear to have affected ED utilization for most behavioral health conditions among postpartum individuals, but assault injury ED visits declined.

Racial disparities persist in mortality after firearm assault injuries: A national analysis of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database

ObjectivesIt is unclear whether improvements in the delivery of trauma care over the last decade have diminished racial disparities in mortality after firearm injuries. MethodsThe American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program was queried for patients (≥18 years old) who experienced penetrating firearm assault injuries between 2008 and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between mortality and race, controlling for demographics, comorbidities, shock index, injury severity score injury location, and hospital characteristics. ResultsThis retrospective cohort study included 261,116 patients who experienced firearm injuries secondary to assault between 2008 and 2018. Patients most frequently identified as Black (64.1%, n = 167,494), followed by White (16.3%, n = 42,649), Hispanic/Latino (15.7%, n = 41,044), and other racial groups (3.8%, n = 9,929). On multivariable logistic regression, Black patients (odds ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.45–1.62), and Hispanic/Latino patients (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.19) were more likely to die after a firearm assault injury than White patients. Black patients were more likely to die in the emergency department (62.2%, n = 13,438) compared with White patients (52.7%, n = 2,838), Hispanic/Latino patients (53.0%, n = 2,635), and patients of other races (54.8%, n = 681). Across all years of the study period, Black patients had a greater risk-adjusted mortality rate than White patients and Hispanic/Latino patients. ConclusionSignificant racial disparities in mortality after firearm assault continue to persist. Early death within the emergency department appears to be a significant driver of these persistent disparities.

Incidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Characteristics of Traumatic Iritis: A Population-Based Analysis.

To describe the incidence, mechanisms, and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with traumatic iritis in a U.S. Midwestern county population. Retrospective population-based cohort of all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota diagnosed with traumatic iritis from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2015. The medical records of patients with traumatic iritis were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project database, which contains virtually all medical care in the county. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, presentation, and follow-up data. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 per year. There were 156 incident diagnoses of traumatic iritis during the 10-year study period, yielding an age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of 10.7 per 100,000 per year. Traumatic iritis disproportionately occurred in male (p < 0.001) and Black (p < 0.001) patients. The mean age of diagnosis was 33 years (range: 4-96 years), mean number of traumatic iritis-specific follow-up visits was 2.1 (range: 0-26), and median duration of traumatic iritis-specific follow-up was 11 days (range: 1 day-1.6 years). There were 155 (99.4%) patients with unilateral disease. The most frequent mechanisms of traumatic iritis were sports-related (N = 29, 18.6%), assault-related (N = 23, 14.7%), scratch (N = 22, 14.1%), and work-related (N = 21, 13.5%) injuries. The mean initial and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eye was 20/40 and 20/30, respectively. Loss of follow-up was more frequently observed in Black patients (p < 0.001) and patients with smoking history (p = 0.004). Traumatic iritis was most frequently observed in younger males and Black patients. Common mechanisms included sports, assault, scratch, and work-related injuries.

Interactive associations of cannabis and alcohol outlet densities with assault injuries in California: A spatiotemporal analysis.

Recreational cannabis outlets may influence rates of interpersonal violence, but research has yielded inconsistent findings. Modification by alcohol outlet density may help explain inconsistencies. We estimated the impacts of recreational cannabis outlets on neighborhood-level assault injury rates in California and evaluated whether alcohol outlet density moderated these associations. We applied Bayesian spatiotemporal analyses to ZIP code-level statewide data on alcohol outlets, recreational cannabis outlets, and injuries and deaths due to firearm and nonfirearm assault, 2017-2019, accounting for confounders and spatial autocorrelation. Using the model posteriors, we estimated parameters corresponding to hypothetical shifts in outlet densities, overall and by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. If recreational cannabis outlets were never introduced, we estimated that nonfirearm assault injuries would have been 1.63 per 100,000 lower (95%CI: -3.08, 0.01) but we observed no association with firearm assault injuries (RD per 100,000: -0.07; 95%CI: -0.34, 0.21). These associations did not depend on alcohol outlet density, but a hypothetical 20% reduction in alcohol outlet densities was associated with fewer firearm (RD per 100,000: -1.89; 95%CI: -0.46, 0.09) and nonfirearm (RD per 100,000: -5.67; 95%CI: -7.44, -3.95) assault injuries. The introduction of recreational cannabis outlets may have contributed to a small increase in nonfirearm assault injuries.

Economic Cost of US Older Adult Assault Injuries

Economic Cost of US Older Adult Assault Injuries

Emergency Department Visits Among Adolescents for Intentional Assault, Firearm, Poison, and Self-Harm Injuries Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Purpose This study aimed to examine changes in adolescent emergency department (ED) visits for firearm, poison, self-harm, and intentional assault injuries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify sociodemographic factors influencing these variations. Methods Utilizing the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), the study analyzes data for intentional self-harm, poison-related, intentional assaults, and firearm injuries from 2019 to 2021 in adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. A difference-in-differences analysis was conducted to investigate the potential impacts of COVID-19 on injury-associated ED visits, accounting for adjustments related to year, patient factors, and hospital characteristics. Results There was a substantial decline in the number of all ED visits from pre-COVID to during the COVID, but we observed increases in the volume of ED visits for firearm-related injuries (13,248 to 20,611; p-value < 0.0001), poison-related injuries (147,812 to 213,753; p-Value < 0.0001), and intentional self-harm-related injuries (153,297 to 229,591; p-value < 0.0001). Conversely, intentional assault-related injuries decreased (167,614 to 154,940; p-value < 0.0001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, ED visits for intentional self-harm increased by 15% (95% CI = 1.09-1.21), intentional assault by 6% (95% CI = 1.02-1.09), and poison-related injuries by 17% (95% CI = 1.11-1.21) compared to pre-pandemic levels. Racial disparities were observed, with Black individuals having lower odds of self-harm (aOR = 0.63) and poison-related visits (aOR = 0.69) but higher odds of assault-related visits (aOR = 1.40) compared to Whites. Hispanic individuals had fewer ED visits across all injury types, while Native Americans had higher odds across all injury types. Disparities between Black and White individuals in assault-related visits narrowed during the pandemic (aOR = 1.40 to 0.94), but disparities for Native Americans in assault-related injuries widened. Insurance status influenced ED visits, with Medicaid recipients having higher odds of self-harm (aOR = 1.11) but lower odds of assault visits (aOR = 0.82) compared to those with private insurance. Uninsured adolescents had lower odds of self-harm (aOR = 0.85) and poison-related visits (aOR = 0.95), but higher odds of assault-related visits (aOR = 1.17). Gender disparities persisted, with females having higher odds of self-harm (aOR = 1.66) and poison-related visits (aOR = 1.42) but lower odds of assault-related visits (aOR = 0.91) compared to males, with these disparities widening for self-harm and poison-related visits during the pandemic. Conclusions The findings underscore the heightened vulnerability of adolescents to certain injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted interventions and policies to support mental health, firearm safety measures, and strategies to prevent poisoning are recommended. Addressing socioeconomic disparitiesis necessary to mitigate the impact of intentional injuries among racially/ethnically diverse adolescents during future pandemics.

Traumatic Brain Injury in Admitted Patients with Ocular Trauma

To characterize the epidemiology of simultaneous traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ocular trauma. In this retrospective, observational study, de-identified data from patients admitted with ocular trauma and TBI was extracted from the National Trauma Data Bank (2008-2014) using International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes and E-codes relating to injury circumstances. Mechanisms, types of ocular and head injuries, intention, and demographic distribution were determined. Association of variables was calculated with Student’s t and chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis. Of 316,485 patients admitted with ocular trauma, 184,124 (58.2%) also had TBI. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 41.8 (23) years. Most were males (69.8%). Race/ethnicity distribution was 68.5% white, 13.3% black, and 11.4% Hispanic patients. The mean (SD) Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 12.4 (4.4) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 17 (10.6). Frequent injuries were orbital fractures (49.3%) and eye/adnexa contusions (38.3%). Common mechanisms were falls (27.7%) and motor vehicle-occupant (22.6%). Firearm-related trauma (5.2%) had the greatest odds of very severe injury (ISS >24) (odds ratio [OR]: 4.29; p<0.001) and severe TBI (GCS <8) (OR: 5.38; p<0.001). Assault injuries were associated with the greatest odds of mild TBI (OR: 1.36; p<0.001) and self-inflicted injuries with severe TBI (OR: 8.06; p<0.001). Eye/adnexal contusions were most associated with mild TBI (OR: 1.25; p<0.001). Optic nerve/visual pathway injuries had greater odds of severe TBI (OR: 2.91; p<0.001) and mortality (OR: 2.27; p<0.001) than other injuries. Of associated head injuries, the odds of severe TBI were greatest with skull base fractures (OR: 4.07; p<0.001) and mortality with intracerebral hemorrhages (OR: 4.28; p<0.001). Mortality occurred in 5.9% of patients. TBI occurred in nearly two-thirds of ocular trauma admissions. The mortality rate was low with implications for challenging rehabilitation and long-term disability in survivors.

The problem of unconscious and unidentified patients in emergency department admissions; a 3-year retrospective study.

Unidentified patients present a medical information dilemma for all medical departments but can be a major problem in Emergency Departments (EDs). This study aimed to determine the clinical and socio-demographic profile of 'unidentified' patients admitted to the ED with altered consciousness and to define the outcomes of these patients. All ED presentations were analyzed retrospectively for the unidentified patients brought to the hospital by ambulance with altered consciousness. We assessed demographic data, clinical presentation, discharge information, and major clinical outcomes. In this study, 1324 unidentified patients were admitted with altered consciousness to the ED. Of these, 1048 (80.1%) were foreign nationals. In this patient group, the most common diagnoses were; traffic accidents, assault or sharp object injuries, drug addicts, or syncope-epilepsy. In addition, the number of patients who left the hospital without permission or escaped and therefore could not be diagnosed was higher in the foreign nationalities group and constituted approximately one-fifth of the patients (18.9% vs. 5.4%, p:0.001). Of the unidentified patients, 903 (68.2%) were discharged after treatment. 351 (26.5%) patients left the ED unattended. 32 (2.4%) patients were hospitalized. 38 (2.9%) patients died in ED. The majority of the unidentified patients admitted to the ED with altered consciousness were immigrant males. Unidentified patients are a high-need population, most commonly presenting with substance misuse or trauma. Although most of the patients were seeking urgent treatment, more than one-fourth of the patients left the hospital without appropriate treatment and most of these patients were also immigrants. We believe that economic, linguistic, and social disadvantages played an important role in this outcome.

Evaluating Firearm Violence After New Jersey’s Cash Bail Reform

Reducing the pretrial detention population has been a cornerstone of movements to end mass incarceration. Across many US cities, there are ongoing public debates on policies that would end pretrial detention due to the inability to afford bail, with some raising concerns that doing so would increase community violence. To evaluate changes in firearm violence after New Jersey's 2017 bail reform policy that eliminated financial barriers to avoiding pretrial detention. This case-control study used synthetic control methods to examine changes in firearm mortality and combined fatal and nonfatal shootings in New Jersey (2014-2019). New Jersey was chosen because it was one of the first states to systematically implement cash bail reform. Outcomes in New Jersey were compared with a weighted combination of 36 states that did not implement any kind of reform to pretrial detention during the study period. Data were analyzed from April 2023 to March 2024. Implementation of New Jersey's cash bail reform law in 2017. Quarterly rates of fatal and nonfatal firearm assault injuries and firearm self-harm injuries per 100 000 people. Although New Jersey's pretrial detention population dramatically decreased under bail reform, the study did not find evidence of increases in overall firearm mortality (average treatment effect on the treated, -0.26 deaths per 100 000) or gun violence (average treatment effect on the treated, -0.24 deaths per 100 000), or within racialized groups during the postpolicy period. Incarceration and gun violence are major public health problems impacting racially and economically marginalized groups. Cash bail reform may be an important tool for reducing pretrial detention and advancing health equity without exacerbating community violence.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Hong Kong.

Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence rates of various types of intimate partner violence (IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in Hong Kong and examined the associations between IPV and different addictive behavior and mental health problems. Methods: A total of 759 LGB adults completed an online cross-sectional survey between November 2021 and February 2022. Data on past-year IPV and LGB-specific tactics (whether perpetrated or experienced by participants), addictive behavior, anxiety, depression, and demographics were collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics and logistic regressions. Results: Psychological aggression was the most common type of IPV within an LGB relationship (22.1%), followed by physical assault (10.8%) and IPV-related injury (4.1%). LGB-specific tactics were experienced by 39.0% of the LGB adults. Depression, anxiety, and frequent gambling were significantly associated with specific types of IPV and LGB-specific tactics. Conclusion: IPV was prevalent in the LGB population. Findings on correlates provided insights for future development of IPV detection and intervention.

A national analysis of burn injuries among homeless persons presenting to emergency departments

IntroductionBurn injuries among the homeless are increasing as record numbers of people are unsheltered and resort to unsafe heating practices. This study characterizes burns in homeless encounters presenting to US emergency departments (EDs). MethodsBurn encounters in the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) were queried. ICD-10 and CPT codes identified homelessness, injury regions, depths, total body surface area (TBSA %), and treatment plans. Demographics, comorbidities, and charges were analyzed. Discharge weights generated national estimates. Statistical analysis included univariate testing and multivariate modeling. ResultsOf 316,344 weighted ED visits meeting criteria, 1919 (0.6%) were homeless. Homeless encounters were older (mean age 44.83 vs. 32.39 years), male-predominant (71% vs. 52%), and had more comorbidities, and were more often White or Black race (p < 0.001). They more commonly presented to EDs in the West and were covered by Medicaid (51% vs. 33%) (p < 0.001). 12% and 5% of homeless burn injuries were related to self-harm and assault, respectively (p < 0.001). Homeless encounters experienced more third-degree burns (13% vs. 4%; p < 0.001), though TBSA % deciles were not significantly different (34% vs. 33% had TBSA % of ten or lower; p = 0.516). Homeless encounters were more often admitted (49% vs. 7%; p < 0.001), and homelessness increased odds of admission (OR 4.779; p < 0.001). Odds of transfer were significantly lower (OR 0.405; p = 0.021). ConclusionHomeless burn ED encounters were more likely due to assault and self-inflicted injuries, and more severe. ED practitioners should be aware of these patients’ unique presentation and triage to burn centers accordingly.

Effectiveness of a Teaching Module using Simulated Patient, Photographs and Case Scenario in Wound Certificate Preparation by under-graduate Students

Many mistakes inadvertently made during preparation of wound certificate by doctors could ultimately lead to a miscarriage of justice. As a primary first contact doctor, every Indian Medical Graduate needs to be conversant in the scientific principles of preparation of wound certificate to meet legal requirements. Wound certificates are one of the most compelling medicolegal documents that have for reaching implications in legal trails of homicides, assault and civil injury cases. It is necessary to strengthen the teaching of wound certificate preparation. This study was conducted with an objective to find out the effectiveness of a designated teaching module when compared with conventional method of lecture class. An interventional study done at Department of Forensic Medicine, in a Medical College with whole batch of Phase II MBBS students. Adesigned teaching module with simulated patient, photographs and case scenario was prepared to teach wound certificate. Students were divided into 6 major groups and each group again sub-classified into two; the study group was taught using teaching module and the control group using conventional teaching learning methods. Performance of students was assessed after the teaching schedule and statistically compared using unpaired 't' test. Students taught using teaching module performed better compared to students in a conventional method of teaching where the difference was found to be statistically significant.

The impact of curfews on emergency departments and orthopedic traumas.

The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of curfews imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department visits, orthopedic trauma frequencies, and types of trauma. In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, a total of 16,242 patients, including 3,020 trauma patients, were admitted to level 1 trauma center emergency department between April-June 2020 and 2021 (curfew group) and between April-June 2018 and 2019 (control group). Patients were separated according to emergency department triage categories and trauma mechanisms, and the changes in the days of curfew were analyzed. With the curfews, there was a 54% decrease in emergency room admissions. This decrease was seen especially in yellow and green area patients, whereas there was no significant decrease in red area patients with the highest urgency. When the effect of curfews on orthopedic traumas was analyzed, a 20% decrease was observed in trauma cases. In particular, there was a significant decrease in traffic accidents in and out of the vehicle, assault, and sports injuries, whereas there was no significant decrease in falls from the same level, motor accidents, and occupational accidents. The impact of curfews on the density of emergency departments and trauma patients will guide the health management policies to be followed in future curfews to be implemented for different reasons. In the light of this information, more effective resource management and better quality health service planning will be ensured.

The Health and Economic Impact of Youth Violence by Injury Mechanism

Violence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among U.S. youth. More information on the health and economic burden of the most frequent assault mechanisms-or, causes (e.g., firearms, cut/pierce)-can support the development and implementation of effective public health strategies. Using nationally representative data sources, this study estimated the annual health and economic burden of U.S. youth violence by injury mechanism. In 2023, CDC's WISQARS provided the number of homicides and nonfatal assault ED visits by injury mechanism among U.S. youth aged 10-24 years in 2020, as well as the associated average economic costs of medical care, lost work, morbidity-related reduced quality of life, and value of statistical life. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Department Sample provided supplemental nonfatal assault incidence data for comprehensive reporting by injury mechanism. Of the $86B estimated annual economic burden of youth homicide, $78B was caused by firearms, $4B by cut/pierce injuries, and $1B by unspecified causes. Of the $36B billion estimated economic burden of nonfatal youth violence injuries, $19B was caused by struck by/against injuries, $3B by firearm injuries, and $365M by cut/pierce injuries. The lethality of assault injuries affecting youth when a weapon is explicitly or likely involved is high-firearms and cut/pierce injuries combined account for nearly all youth homicides compared to one-tenth of nonfatal assault injury ED visits. There are numerous evidence-based policies, programs, and practices to reduce the number of lives lost or negatively impacted by youth violence.

Short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and injuries due to external causes according to intentions and mechanisms

Although injuries are a leading cause of death and affect the life expectancy of individuals who live with disabilities globally, the potential role of air pollution exposure on injuries due to external causes has received little scientific attention, especially compared with that given to the association of air pollution and non-external causes of morbidity and mortality. We investigated the association between emergency department visits for externally caused injuries and short-term exposure to major ambient air pollutants, with focus on the intentions and mechanisms of injuries. We identified 2,049,855 injured patients in Seoul, South Korea between 2008 and 2016 using the National Emergency Database. Daily short-term exposure to air pollution including particles <10 μm (PM10) and <2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) was estimated based on hourly concentrations. We employed a time-stratified case-crossover study design using a conditional Poisson regression model adjusted for meteorological variables, influenza epidemics, and holidays. Immediate exposure (lag 0) to most pollutants significantly increased the risk of total injuries (PM2.5, 0.42 %; NO2, 0.68 %; SO2, 1.05 %; CO, 0.57 %; O3, 1.86 % per interquartile range increment), and the associations differed according to the intention and mechanism of injury. Unintentional and assault injuries were significantly associated with air pollution exposure, whereas self-harm injuries showed no association. In mechanism-specific analyses, injuries caused by falls, blunt objects, penetration, traffic accidents, machinery, and slips were associated with specific air pollutants, even in the co-pollutant models. The associations were stronger in injured patients aged <15 years, and in males than in their counterparts. Our results suggest that short-term air pollution exposure might play a role in the risk of externally caused injuries and the association may differ depending on the intention and mechanism of injury, which provide important evidence for injury prevention and air quality strategies.

Clinical characteristics and functional outcome of surgically treated adult head trauma patients with acute subdural hematoma: Ethiopian tertiary hospitals experience

BackgroundAcute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is one of the most common and devastating lesions in traumatic brain injury with a mortality rate upto 60 % especially in low-income countries. The present study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and functional outcomes and the associated factors of surgically treated head trauma patients with ASDH. MethodsBetween January 2018 and January 2021 we identified 140 head trauma patients with ASDH who underwent surgical evacuation in three tertiary hospitals. Epidemiological data were collected; the six-month functional outcome was studied using an extended Glasgow outcome score (EGOS) and associated factors were also studied. Univariate analysis was performed at first, and variables with a P-value of <0.05 were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model. ResultsMale predominance was seen accounting for 87 % and assault was the most common mechanism of injury (35.7 %). Sixty-five (56.5 %) of patients achieved favorable functional recovery (EGOS of 5–8) and 50 (43.5 %) of patients had unfavorable recovery (EGOS of 1–4) after 6 months of follow-up. In multivariate logistic regression models, GCS <5, Pupillary abnormality, hypotension, oxygen saturation <90 at presentation, and hospital-acquired pneumonia were the independent factors associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. ConclusionIn our setup, most of the patients are male from assault injuries. There is still a high rate of unfavorable outcomes in patients with acute subdural hematoma. GCS <5, pupillary abnormality, hypotension and desaturation at presentation, and postoperative hospital-acquired infection are predictors for unfavorable functional outcomes.

Assault-related anoxia and neck injuries in US emergency departments

BackgroundEarly identification of non-fatal strangulation in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) is crucial due to its severe physical and psychological consequences for the individual experiencing it. This study...

Implementation of mandatory blood alcohol screening in trauma patients: A retrospective study from a tertiary trauma center in a Middle Eastern country

BackgroundAlcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for several types of injuries and trauma recidivism and remains an important public health concern worldwide. We aimed to describe the implementation of mandatory alcohol screening and the AUDIT tool among trauma patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center in a country with a partial ban on alcohol consumption. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of trauma patients (>12 years old) who required hospital admission and underwent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) screening between 2014 and 2019. This was achieved via an enzymatic method using alcohol dehydrogenase for ethanol detection in the plasma and serum samples. Trauma patients with a BAC <2.2 mmol/L were referred to as “negative”, and BAC >2.2 mmol/L was referred to as “BAC positive”. A comparative analysis was performed between the two BAC groups. Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral for Treatment [ASBIRT] program, and AUDIT were applied. ResultsA total of 7326 BAC screening tests were performed on 7284 patients during the study period. With slight variation over the years, the compliance rate was 77% (70.4%–85.3%), and the test positivity rate was 10% (8.6%–12.5%). There were 42 repeated admissions, of which seven patients were BAC positive at every admission. Young age and non-Arab patients were more likely to test positive, and the main mechanism of injury (MOI) was road traffic-related trauma (p < 0.05). Assault and self-inflicted injuries were significantly higher in BAC-positive patients than in BAC-negative patients (18% vs. 4% and 2.7% vs. 1.3%, respectively; p = 0.001). The injury severity score (ISS) and mortality rate were comparable between the study groups. Patients with a positive BAC were significantly more likely to undergo pan-CT scan in the emergency department, intubation, and exploratory laparotomy than those with a negative BAC. In patients who sustained injuries due to assault, all-terrain vehicles, or motorcycle crashes, there was a significant association between the positivity of BAC tests and the patient's ISS. ConclusionDespite improvements in BAC screening in trauma admissions over the years, almost 20% of cases were missed. Although the mortality rates were comparable, alcohol consumption burdens resources in terms of excess imaging, intubation, open abdominal surgery, and possible disability. Further studies are needed to understand the key obstacles and challenges to achieving optimum compliance for screening in trauma settings.

Safer neighborhoods? Violent crime and trauma volume pre/post targeted police interventions in Dallas, Texas

BackgroundProject Safe Neighborhoods: Dallas (PSND) is part of a national initiative that partners federal, state, and local stakeholders and law enforcement to reduce violent crime, especially firearm violence, in select communities. The authors’ hospital is located centrally in PSND's target areas, and the trauma center's service area fully covers the target areas. This cohort study evaluated PSND's effectiveness by examining if PSND's April 2018 launch was associated with decreases in (1) violent crime or (2) the rate of patients presenting with firearm and assaultive injuries. MethodsData on violent crime (murder/non-negligent homicide, robbery, and aggravated assault) were obtained from all municipalities in the county for January 2015 – December 2020. Patient volume data were queried from the trauma registry for the same period. Nonlinear spatiotemporal models were used to calculate estimated rates and confidence intervals; derivatives were used to determine periods of significant change. Spatial point pattern tests assessed potential relocation of criminal activity. Given the importance of reducing violent crime, alpha was set at 0.05. ResultsThe target areas’ violent crime rate remained higher than the non-target areas’ throughout the study period, and target area violent crime non-significantly increased after PSND's launch. Violent crime in the non-target area increased significantly between February 2018 and February 2019. Part of this increase was attributable to a 7-fold increase (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 7.32 [2.58, 30.65], p < 0.001) in one police patrol beat just outside of the target areas. After years of decreases, rates of patients presenting with assaultive injuries or firearm injuries began significantly increasing and nearly doubled within two years of PSND. ConclusionsResults suggest PSND was ineffective. Criminal activity in the target area was not reduced relative to its pre-intervention levels or relative to the non-target areas. Offenders may have moved outside the target areas to evade increased scrutiny. Additionally, rates of firearm and assaultive injuries increased. As trusted third parties, trauma centers should consider evaluating local crime and injury prevention programs for effectiveness.