Features of the cases injured by stab wounds

Abstract

Background:Criminal attacks resulting stab wounds can be seen all over the world.Stab wound and related organ injuries are somehow different than other kinds of injuries. Specifications of our series are examined and recent classical knowledges  are presented.

Method:Stab wound injuries admitted to our hospital with penetration to the abdominal and/or thoracic cavities are examined retrospectively.Age,sex distribution,abdominal penetration, injured organs and their characteristics,morbidity and mortality rates are investigated.

Results:Majority of the cases in our series constitutes male gender.And  ages older than andropause is minimal.Even all the cases are abdominally penetrated wounds,negative laparotomy ratio was 25,5%.  Average number of organ injured in positive laparotomy section was 1,16 and with an organ  injured,associated organ injury probability was found to be variable.Associated organ injury rate was 40% in liver injury but this percent rises up to 80% in colonic injuries for an example.

Discussion:Increasing the security measurements may help to reduce stab wound injury events in urban places where criminal attacks are seen more frequently.Preventing the injured and accused people facing one other and re-involving the criminal events by psychological approach may affect personal behaviour positively. Abdominal penetration does not ensure intra-abdominal organ injury. Surgeon must make an effort to reduce negative laparotomy number. If the patient needs emergency operation,surgeon should perform the appropriate surgical intervention without a waste of time.Exploration of the abdomen should include inspection of all the intra-abdominal organs and provided that an organ injury detected,meticulous inspection must be done while exploring the neighboring anatomical structures.

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