Sharp Object Injuries Research Articles

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.

Prevalence and associated factors of needlestick and sharp object injuries among healthcare workers in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Needlestick and sharp object injuries affect healthcare workers. However, there are limitations in the evidence available for informed decision-making by stakeholders, as individual research shows inconsistent results. Therefore, this study aims to assess the pooled prevalence of needlestick and sharp object injuries and their associated factors. MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other databases were searched from 5 September 2023 to 10 October 2023 using the following search terms: "Prevalence" OR "Burden" OR "Magnitude" AND "Associated factors" OR "related factors" OR "Risk factors" OR "determinants" OR "Predictors" AND "Needle stick Injury" OR "Sharp Injury" OR "Health care Workers" OR " Health Care Personnel" OR "Nurses" OR "Professional" AND "Ethiopia". The pooled prevalence of needle sticks and sharp objects injury was 40.5 (95% CI: 35.0, 45.9). Needle-stick (AOR, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.6, 3.3, P < 0.001], absence of routine precaution [AOR, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.5, P < 0.01] and lack of training (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4, 4.1, p < 0.001) had increased odds of needle-sticks and sharp objects injury. Forty percent of healthcare workers in Ethiopia have experienced needlestick and sharp object injuries. The identified factors included recapping, absence of routine precautions, and lack of training. PROSPERO, identifier (CRD42023462311).

Left knee septic monoarthritis in a pediatric patient due to shewanella putrefaciens: case report and literature review

BackgroundShewanella putrefaciens is a gram-negative, nonfermenting, oxidase-positive, hydrogen sulfide-producing bacillus and a halophilic bacterium, known for causing unusual infections in humans and often regarded as an opportunistic pathogen. Its diverse symptoms have a significant impact on human health, with 260 documented disorders reported in the literature over the last 40 years, highlighting its potential danger.Case presentationWe present the case of a previously healthy 15-year-old male patient who sustained a self-inflicted sharp-object injury while working in the field, resulting in secondary septic monoarthritis due to Shewanella putrefaciens.ConclusionsThis case highlights the bacteriological and clinical characteristics, as well as the antibiogram, of Shewanella spp. Given the recent increase in notifications of Shewanella infections, predominantly by S. algae and S. putrefaciens, it is essential to consider these pathogens in patients with a history of contact with bodies of water. Special attention must be paid to their resistance patterns in patient management to prevent the development of intrinsic antimicrobial resistance.

How Sharp Objects Injuries Impact our Healthcare Workers: Unveiling Perspective and Preventive Imperatives.

Introduction Sharp object injuries in the medical field present a considerable occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs), encompassing a spectrum of consequences from immediate discomfort to enduring health consequences. These injuries may expose HCWs to potential infections. Despite efforts to control sharp object injuries in healthcare environments, they are present at every stage involving using or disposing of medical sharp instruments. In Jordan, limited research has focused on sharp object injuries, with most data included from studies concentrating on practicing nurses or nursing students. Consequently, further research is necessary to comprehend the causes behind the high sharp object injury rate and the insufficient knowledge of safety practices and preventive guidelines. Objectives This study was conducted to investigate the impact of sharp object injuries on HCWs, underlying causes,and potential consequences causes of needlestick injuries. To highlight perspective and preventive imperatives. Methods and patients This retrospective institutional-based cross-sectional chart analysis was conducted by reviewing all sharp object injuries report sheets and extracting data directly from these reports for analysis. The study encompassed all reported cases occurring between 2018 and 2023. All the participants' data handling was accomplished according to the Declaration of Helsinki (2013) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Acts. Results A total of 146 self-reported hospital workers were included in the study. Within the final cohort, 52.73% of the participants were male (77/146), with an average age at diagnosis of 38.6±7.87 years (ranging from 20 to 52 years). Conversely, females comprised 47.27% of the cohort population (69/146) and had an average age at diagnosis of 34.73±6.73 years (ranging from 19 to 47 years). The age group 20-29 years was the most prominent age group, statistical analysis of age and gender data revealed significant differences. The overall prevalence of sharp object injuries was 11.83%, indicating that a sizable portion of HCWs is at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Among the different professional categories, Physicians constituted the majority of sharp object injuries reported victims in 41 cases (28.08%), followed by nurses in 38 cases (26.02%).Statistical analysis of the profession's data revealed significant differences (P<0.001). Notably, sharp object injuries were most reported in wards. The leading procedures that caused sharp object injuries were identified as during needle recapping in 53 instances (36.30%), then followed by medical waste treatment in 32 cases (21.92%). The left hand was the most affected body part, reported in 83 cases (56.84%).All injured individuals reported the incident promptly. No seroconversions were documented within the reviewed cases during the study period. Conclusion Injuries caused by sharp objects persist as a significant danger for hospital employees, posing immediate harm and long-term health risks linked to bloodborne pathogens. The findings stress the continuous responsibility of healthcare institutions to prioritize staff safety by addressing the root causes of sharp object injuries and fostering reporting and prevention cultures. Underreporting reasons are diverse, encompassing factors like time constraints, fear of consequences, and the misconception of injury insignificance.

Our Surgical Results in Popliteal and Infrapopliteal Artery Injuries: 21 Cases without Amputation.

Popliteal and infrapopliteal artery injuries have significant morbidity and mortality rates, especially in terms of amputation. In our study, we aimed to evaluate patients who operated due to popliteal and infrapopliteal vascular injuries in our clinic. Patients and Methods. Between 2016 and 2023; 21 patients who were operated in our clinic due to popliteal and infrapopliteal artery injuries were retrospectively evaluated. 2 of the patients were female (9.5%) and 19 were male (90.5%). Age ranges were 21-78. The causes of injury were gunshot wounds in 9 patients (42.86%), blunt trauma in 7 patients (33.33%), and sharp object injuries in 5 patients (23.80%). Reversed saphenous vein interposition in 7 patients (33.33%), primary repair in 6 patients (28.57%), 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft (PTFE) interposition in 3 patients (14.28%), end-to-end anastomosis in 2 patients (9.52%), saphenous-PTFE composite graft interposition in 2 patients (9.52%), and embolectomy in 1 patient (4.76%) were performed. Arterial ligation was not performed. Simultaneous orthopedic intervention was performed in 8 patients. Fasciotomy was performed in 3 patients. Venous repair was performed in 5 patients with venous injuries. Vein ligation was not performed. Mortality was observed postoperatively in 1 patient. No patient developed amputation. Foot drop developed with nerve damage in 2 patients. Mortality and morbidity rates may increase in popliteal and infrapopliteal artery injuries in cases of hemodynamic disorder, simultaneous bone fracture, multivessel injury, and nerve transection. These rates can be reduced by appropriate surgical repair and ensuring hemodynamic stability.

Lesão Cortoperfurante complicada numa Enfermeira dos Cuidados de Saúde Primários: um Relato de Caso

Introduction Accidents at work resulted from sharp injuries are frequent and preventable events among health care professionals. The prevalence of secondary infection depends on several factors related to the patient itself, the health care worker and the adherence to preventive protocols. In this article, the authors pretend to present a case report of an accident involving a primary health care professional that suffered a sharp injury and, also, to alert about the significance of appropriately reporting. Case Description Woman, 54 years old, a nurse in primary care with 27 years of experience. Background history, among others, ulcerative colitis under immunosuppressive therapy. At the end of shift, she cuts herself with a contaminated scalpel blade while draining a panaritium, resulting in a superficial wound in the second finger of right hand. Notification of the occurrence was made 36 hours after the accident due to the development of local cellulitis. Later, the infection complicated with likely osteomyelitis. Two cycles of antibiotic therapy have been completed and the imagiological revaluation showed bone integrity and signs of tenosynovitis of the second finger flexors. The nurse is absent from work for 15 weeks and awaits a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine evaluation. Discussion Health care professionals are at greater risk of accident at work, namely, of suffering sharp objects injuries. According to the literature, accidents of this nature are more frequent among female nurses and occur mainly on hands, as in the case described. Among the factors that increase the probability of these occurrences are the high workload and the number of hours worked. Standing out as a particularity of this case is the acquired immunodeficiency secondary to methotrexate therapy as the main condition of the more prolonged disease. This AW had an impact on the professional and the dynamics of the work team, with the need to adjust tasks and temporarily hire another professional. Conclusion As sharp injuries are frequent and preventable, it is important to encourage their reporting. On one hand, to protect the health of injured professionals and on the other hand, so that preventive and corrective measures can be developed. Additionally, it is relevant to know the history of the patient, of the health care professional and the mechanism of injury, to stratify the risk of associated secondary infection. In conclusion, the cooperation of Occupational Health services with other health professionals is important for the adequate management of occupational risks. KEYWORDS: occupational accidents; sharps injuries; incident reporting; family practice; occupational medicine; workplace conditions.

Risk Factors and Prevention of Needlestick Instruments in the Medical Field: Systematic Review

Introduction: Needlestick and sharp object injuries represent a significant occupational hazard faced by healthcare workers worldwide. A systematic review focusing on needlestick and sharp object injuries among healthcare workers is essential due to the heterogeneous nature of existing research. The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively synthesize existing literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies related to needlestick and sharp object injuries among healthcare workers. Methods: This thorough examination adheres to PRISMA principles and implements a pre-planned research plan to promote transparency and minimize partiality. It encompasses investigations involving medical personnel (such as nurses and physicians) centered on puncture wounds and sharp instrument mishaps, exploring contributing factors, occurrence rate, aftermaths, and preventative measures. A thorough exploration is conducted through various databases, with two separate evaluators examining and evaluating the studies. Suitable studies encompass both observational and intervention-based studies without constraints on publication dates. Information is extracted using a standardized format, and ethical clearance is not required as the review solely relies on already published data. Results: In our systematic review, we initially identified 1,523 articles through a database search, which underwent a stepwise screening process, resulting in 198 articles after assessing titles and abstracts. Subsequently, these 198 articles underwent a rigorous full-text evaluation. After this thorough assessment, 14 studies were included that met our predefined eligibility criteria. Our synthesis of the observational studies revealed recurring risk factors for needlestick and sharp object injuries among healthcare workers, including inadequate training, the impact of fatigue and extended working hours, and insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE). Additional factors like job category, experience level, and compliance with safety protocols were also highlighted in specific studies. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the importance of standardized approaches to enhance healthcare worker safety, particularly in addressing risk factors like inadequate training, fatigue, and inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE). The effectiveness of prevention strategies, as demonstrated in our meta-analysis, underscores the value of comprehensive programs in reducing injury rates, emphasizing the need for more standardized and multifaceted safety measures across healthcare settings.

Ocular Trauma in Children: An Epidemiological Study.

This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of eye injuries in children and the influential factors involved. Eighty cases of confirmed ocular trauma were included in this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained via a checklist containing demographic information, site of the insult, the interval between the injury and physician visit, trauma mechanism, and medical history, including previous history of ocular trauma. Among 80 children with ocular trauma, 72.5% (n = 58) were boys. A marked preponderance (46.2%) of injuries was seen in the age group younger than 6 years. The youngest patient was a 1-year-old, and the oldest was aged 17. Most (76.25%) of the incidents occurred indoors. A total of 67.5% of accidents were induced by sharp objects (knife and glass). Most accidents occurred in spring, whereas the least number of accidents occurred in winter. The corneoscleral laceration was the most common manifestation, followed by the laceration of the iris, uveal prolapse, hyphema, and cataracts. Furthermore, rare cases of retinal detachment, hypopyon, and corneal epithelial defects were seen. The highest incidents of ocular trauma occurred in boys, especially those younger than 6 years. The high number of sharp object injuries is also concerning. These findings provide us with evidence that further educational interventions and supervision are required in these groups to minimize the possible devastating injuries before the opportunity even arises.

Application of PDCA to Reduce Sharp Object Injuries

&lt;p&gt;目的：降低牙科尖銳物扎傷，以提升安全的工作環境。方法：經專案小組重新修訂污染器械處理標準作業流程、舉辦在職教育、拍攝影片「照顧病患，更要保護 自己」宣導、調整洗牙器械擺放位置、制定標語口號「給我3分鐘，給你下一台」。結果：由改善前佔全院16.7%，改善後降低至0%，整體降低69.4%。結論：經實施對策後，能有效降低牙科尖銳物扎傷，將原有高風險環境再造改良後降低同仁傷害，日後仍需持續營造安全的工作環境。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Objective: To promote a safe workplace in hospital dentistry department by minimizing injuries caused by sharp objects. Methods: A task force revised the standard operating procedures for the handling of contaminated equipment and instruments, conducted on-the-job training, produced a promotional film titled &amp;ldquo;Caring for Patients, but Protecting Yourself,&amp;rdquo; rearranged the placement of dental cleaning instruments and tools in the clinic, and created the slogan &amp;ldquo;Give me three minutes, then the bench is yours.&amp;rdquo; Results: The sharp object injury incidence rate in the dentistry department dropped from 16.7% to 0%, resulting in a decrease of 69.4% in the overall hospital incidence rate. Conclusions: Following the interventions of this study, the number of sharp object injuries in the dentistry department was reduced, and the previously high-risk work environment was improved, which minimized staff exposure to hazards. Nevertheless, continuous efforts are necessary to foster a safe workplace.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Characteristics and Occurrence Scenarios of Staff Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Shanghai Lingang Fangcang Shelter Hospital, CHINA.

To analyze the characteristics and occurrence scenarios of occupational exposure of staff in the Shanghai Lingang Fangcang Shelter Hospital. We collected the data of 80 staff with occupational exposure (including doctors, nurses, cleaning, security guards, and maintenance staff) in the Shanghai Lingang Fangcang Shelter Hospital from April 5 to May 20, 2022. The basic information of occupational exposure, factors influencing different occupational exposure types, ways to discover occupational exposure, discovery places of occupational exposure, and specific occurrence scenarios were compiled and analyzed among these data. Occupational exposure mainly occurred in nurses (37, 46.25%), and cleaning (21, 26.25%). After the occurrence of occupational exposure, 20 staff (25%) did not know the occurrence time. Moreover, occupational exposure types were listed from high to low proportion as follows: broken protective clothing (56, 70%), mask loosening or displacement (13, 16.25%), skin exposure (6, 7.5%), and sharp object injuries (5, 6.25%). Occupational exposure was discovered mainly through self-discovery (56, 70%), while other discovery ways were majorly colleague discovery (12, 15%) and infection control supervisor discovery (12, 15%). Furthermore, occupational exposure was discovered principally in the public area (53.75%) and the office area (25%) of the cabin, but the proportion of mask loosening or displacement (38.46%) and skin exposure (50%) was also high in the first unloading area. Broken protective clothing occurred in the following scenarios: scratching while working in the cabin (37, 66.07%) and not knowing its occurrence time (25%). The occurrence scenarios of mask loosening or displacement were mainly not knowing its occurrence time (6, 46.15%), self-discovery (3, 23.08%), and at the time of removal (3, 23.08%). Targeted training and prevention of occupational exposure should be performed to decrease infection risk and ensure staff safety in Fangcang shelter hospitals.

Evaluation of sharp injuries in healthcare professionals

Aims: We carried out this descriptive study to retrospectively explore the occupational accidents in our hospital between January 01, 2016 - December 31, 2019. Methods: We present the descriptive statistics as means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. Results: While 49.3% of the participants were aged 18-29 years, 75.2% were females. About half of the participants (52.2%) held a secondaryschool diploma. While 31.3% worked as trainee nurses, 24.4% were employed as nurses. Similarly, approximately half of the participants (48.9%) were deployed in clinics, and 16.0% engaged in care in intensive care units. Given the way the participants experienced the occupational accident, 53.3% were injured with a needle-stick (syringe/branule) and 21.9% with a lancet. Conclusion: It is well-known that sharp object injuries constitute a significant portion of occupational accidents occurring to healthcare professionals. Accordingly, the measures to be adopted to prevent such undesirable situations may be led by uncovering the frequency of and underlying factors for sharp object injuries, causing worries among healthcare professionals and loss of workforce and even death.

Evaluation of the community involvement of nursing experts in reducing unintentional injuries in children

BackgroundNursing experts regularly visited the community to deliver safety education on the prevention of unintentional injuries in children to the parents of children aged 0–6 years and to pregnant women in a maternity school. This was undertaken to explore the effects of the measure on preventing unintentional injuries in children in Chizhou, China.MethodsUsing the convenience sampling method, the guardians(it means mother in this study)of children were investigated. The nursing experts visited communities in which the number of nursing experts is declining. Data on unintentional injuries in children in the previous year were collected retrospectively.ResultsAfter the nursing experts delivered safety education to the community, the scores of the questionnaire on unintentional injury prevention knowledge completed by children’s guardians increased significantly (p < 0.01). Among the children whose guardians completed the questionnaire, there were 157 cases of unintentional injury in 2020 and 103 cases in 2021 (p < 0.05). The types of unintentional injuries included scratches, falls, sharp object injuries, swallowing of foreign bodies, burns and traffic accidents; there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in terms of gender ratio and location (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn conjunction with the maternity school for pregnant women and the vaccination programme, nursing experts delivered safety education regarding unintentional injuries in children; this may have promoted safety and protection awareness in the children’s guardians and reduced unintentional injuries.

Evaluation of functional results of primary repair in hand extensor tendon injuries according to etiological factors, associated injuries and injury sites

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical treatment of extensor tendon injuries in the hand with appropriate primary repair techniques on clinical and functional outcomes, taking into account the mechanism of injury, concomitant injuries and injury sites. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which 103 patients who were operated between 2016-2020 in Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic were evaluated retrospectively. Existing treatment modalities were evaluated in terms of etiological factors, anatomical regions, number of injured tendons, and injuries. Complications and functional outcomes were statistically evaluated according to anatomical regions, mechanism of injury and additional injuries. Results: 114 extensor tendon injuries of 103 patients (mean age: 37.2 years) were evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 26.8 months. Among the etiological factors, it is seen that the most common one is sharp object injury (57.3%). According to the Miller classification performed at the 8th week and 12th month in sharp object injury, moderate and poor outcome and the presence of complications were found to be statistically significantly lower than other injury types. A statistical correlation was observed between the accompanying injury (n: 21/103) and the occurrence of complications and functional outcomes. While there is no difference between complications, depending on the body regions, and functional results at 8. week statistically significantly lower functional results were found in zone-2 injuries at 12 months. Conclusion: While successful postoperative recovery primarily depends on the type of injury and associated injuries, good and excellent functional results can be achieved with early mobilization after surgery with the appropriate repair technique in any region.

1299. Effectiveness of Educational Interventions to Reduce Incidence of Occupational Exposure to Blood and Body Fluid in First-clinical-year Medical Students of A Thai University-based Medical School

Abstract Background Occupational exposures to patients’ blood and body fluid are not uncommon and increase risk of blood-borne infections among medical students during their clinical clerkship. However, existing data on interventions to prevent such exposures are limited in Thailand. We conducted this study to evaluate effectiveness of the study interventions in decreasing incidences of the occupational exposures among first-clinical-year medical students (4th-year students) in a Thai university-based medical school. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted to compare the incidence of the occupational exposures between the pre-intervention period (2019 academic year) and the intervention period (2020 academic year). The interventions included an orientation session about occupation exposure prevention and procedure review for the medical students on the first day of each major department rotation and the use of LINE application to send video clips and articles for procedure review, weekly remind the students how to prevent themselves from common occupational exposures via short messages and provide Q&amp;A sessions between the researchers and medical students regarding procedures and occupational exposure prevention. Results A total of 63 medical students, men (57%) and women (43%), and 66 medical students, men (47%) and women (53%) participated in the study during the pre-intervention and intervention periods, respectively. The incidence of occupational exposure among the students was significantly lower in the intervention period compared to the pre-intervention period (7.9 vs. 35.86 per 100 person-years; P&amp;lt; 0.001). The most common exposures were mucosal exposure (44%), needle stick injury (25%), and sharp object injuries (25%). After the exposures, there was no acquisition of syphilis and infections due to human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among the students in both periods. Conclusion The study interventions that included focused orientation and the use of LINE application to communicate with the students regarding procedure review and occupational exposure prevention were associated with significant decrease in the incidence of occupational exposure during their clinical clerkship. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Subcutaneous Emphysema Secondary to the Performance of Positive Air Pressure After a Sharp Object Injury to the Hand: Case Report

Subcutaneous emphysema is the novo infiltration of air in the subcutaneous layer of skin. The incidence of subcutaneous emphysema varies from 0.43% to 2.34%. and can result from surgical, traumatic, infectious, or idiopathic processes. Air can enter the subcutaneous tissue through occupational accidents, as occurred in our clinical presentation; on physical examination, the most common finding associated with subcutaneous emphysema is crepitus on palpation. It is important to make a timely diagnosis to determine the cause, provide appropriate management and avoid complications.

Laporan Kasus: Diagnosis dan Tatalaksana Tetanus Generalisata

Tetanus is a health problem that occurs throughout the world, especially in developing countries due to poor immunization programs. Tetanus is acute toxemia caused by a neurotoxin produced by C. tetani characterized by periodic and severe muscle stiffness and spasms. This neurotoxin will inhibit the release of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, causing muscle stiffness. A case report of a 29-year-old man came to the emergency department of the Arifin Achmad Hospital, Riau Province with complaints of stiffness all over the body since 2 weeks before admission to the hospital. Stiffness begins in the mouth that is difficult to open, followed by stiffness in the neck and the whole body. 3 weeks before the patient had suffered a sharp object injury on the right knee and was not treated properly. Vital Signs 135/80, heart rate 92, respiratory rate 22, temperature 36.6. 0 C. Physical examination revealed trismus, stiff neck, rigidity of abdomen, opisthotonos. The patient was treated in the intensive care unit (isolation room) and received adequate treatment.

Matching study using health and police datasets for characterising interpersonal violence in the community of Khayelitsha, South Africa 2013-2015.

ObjectivesThe Cardiff Model of data sharing for violence prevention is premised on the idea that the majority of injury cases presenting at health facilities as a result of interpersonal violence will not be reported to the police. The aim of this study was to determine the concordance between violent crimes reported to the police with violence-related injuries presenting at health facilities in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of secondary cross-sectional health and police data, from three health facilities and three police stations in the community of Khayelitsha, Cape Town. 781 cases of injuries arising from interpersonal violence seen at health facilities were compared with 739 violence-related crimes reported at police stations over five separate week-long sampling periods from 2013 to 2015. Personal identifiers, name and surname, were used to match cases.ResultsOf the 708 cases presenting at health facilities, 104 (14.7%) were matched with police records. The addition of non-reported cases of violence-related injuries from the health dataset to the police-reported crime statistics resulted in an 81.7% increase in potential total violent crimes over the reporting period. Compared with incidents reported to the police, those not reported were more likely to involve male patients (difference: +47.0%; p<0.001) and sharp object injuries (difference: +24.7%; p<0.001). Push/kick/punch injuries were more frequent among reporting than non-reporting patients (difference: +17.5%; p<0.001).ConclusionThese findings suggest that the majority of injuries arising from interpersonal violence presenting at health facilities in Khayelitsha are not reported to the police. A data-sharing model between health services and the police should be implemented to inform violence surveillance and reduction.

A retrospective analysis of the skull base fractures: demographic characteristics, causes and imaging findings

Background and objectives: Skull base fractures have high mortality and morbidity rates and constitute a significant medical issue. The aim of the present study was to review the demographic characteristics, common locations and causes of the skull base fractures retrospectively. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients who attended the Intensive Care Unit/Radiology Clinic of Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital between 2015 and 2018 and were found to have skull base fractures. The data were accessed via PACS system of the hospital database. Age, gender, cause of the trauma, type of the skull base fracture, imaging findings and outcome of the enrolled patients were analyzed. Results: Total 138 cases who met the study criteria were enrolled in the study. The causes of the skull base fracture were as follows: fall 52.2%, traffic accident 36.2%, pounding 3.6%, firearm injury 0.7%, sharp object injury 0.7%, and other causes 6.5%. There was a statistically significant (p&lt;0.001) difference in rate of skull base fracture caused by traffic accident between the ≤18-year group and 19-45 age group. The difference between the types of epidural hematoma was not significant in all age groups (p= 0.156); however, there was a statistically significant difference for gender (female vs. male 26.1%73.9%, p=0.025). Conclusion: Skull base fractures were more common in fall from height and traffic accidents. In order to reduce skull base fractures, it is recommended to take preventive precautions for falls from height and traffic accidents. IMC J Med Sci 2022; 16(2): 002. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.16.012 *Correspondence: Safiye Kafadar, Department of Radiology, Adiyaman University Education and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey. Email: safiyekafadar@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0003-4070-9615

Litrature Review Trauma Vascular

Vascular traumatic is trauma to the blood vessels caused by blunt injuries such as a hard impact or penetrating injuries such as sharp object injuries, penetrating bullet shots. Massive haemorrhage is the main cause of vascular trauma, resulting in death. Therefore, prompt treatment is needed to avoid other complications or even death due to uncontrolled bleeding. Vascular surgeons are the key to trauma injury patients, by controlling bleeding and vascular reconstruction, using aspects of open and endovascular surgical techniques. Diagnostic protocols are needed to identify injuries and consider the best tactics for surgical treatment of vascular injuries. Accurate, non-invasive diagnostic imaging techniques are key to this strategy. The aim of this review is to determine the optimal diagnostic imaging in patients with suspected vascular injury in the anatomic region and the method of treatment with retrospective or prospective data collection which is preferable to CT angiography compared to other methods. CT angiography can be declared the gold standard for diagnosing vascular injury in patients.

Sharp Object Injuries of Family Health Workers Working in Primary Health Care Services and Related Factors.

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate family health workers’ exposure to injuries with needlestick and sharp instruments and its related factors.MethodThe universe of the relational descriptive study consisted of 150 family health workers working in 26 family health centers in the Bornova district, and the study was completed with 115 family health workers who voluntarily accepted to participate in the research. The data consisted of 4 sections and 26 questions in total: the questionnaire form created by the researchers in line with the literature, the sociodemographic information form, the questions regarding the needlestick and sharp injuries. In the evaluation of the data, using SPSS 20.0 package program, number, percentage distributions, mean and standard deviation were calculated, and Kruskal–Wallis analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed.ResultsAll of the family health workers included in the research were women and the average age was 38.6 ± 6.38. It was determined that 81.7% of family health workers received occupational health and safety training, and the average score they gave to the level of knowledge about what to do in case of a cutting-edge injury was 7.62 ± .96. In the study group, the ratio of history of needlestick and sharp instrument injury was 79.1%, and the average number of injuries was 6.72 ± 4.01.ConclusionAs a result of the research, it has been determined that family health workers’ occupational health and safety training increases the use of protective equipment, where the rate of injuries is high and the rate of reporting in case of injury is very low.