Pattern of injuries due to interpersonal violence

Abstract

The specific aim of this study was to find characteristics of violence-related injuries, its anatomic distribution and the mechanisms. During a one-year period 1481 consecutive assault victims were interviewed and examined at the Accident and Emergency departments or the Department of Forensic Medicine in Aarhus, Denmark. Information about 2432 violence-related injuries was analysed. The results showed significant differences in injury location, type of injury and injury mechanisms between male and female victims. 69% of all injuries were craniofacial. The injury mechanism was mostly blunt trauma by fist or feet. Cases with penetrating trauma, were predominantly caused by broken drinking glasses. Weapons such as knives and guns only caused 3.7% of all injuries. The results are similar to other studies.