title: Assault induced stab injuries: epidemiology and actual treatment strategy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and analyse epidemiology, demographics and patterns of presentation of assault induced stab injuries in a main Belgian trauma centre. To evaluate surgical management, complications and postoperative follow-up of the stab wound victims.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seventy assaulted patients, hospitalised because of stab injuries from January 2000 to June 2007 are studied retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five percent of the assaults occurred on men and the mean age of the patients was 31.1 +/- 9.7 years. Ethnic minorities represent 77% of the patients hospitalised for assaults and 26.5% of all patients proved to be under toxic influence, predominantly from alcohol (21.8%). A decline of admissions of patients with stab injuries during the period 2002-2004 is recorded. However, the incidence doubled in the next two-year period. A weekend peak and circadian rhythm is apparent with more than 20% of the patients admitted between 4 and 6 am. The trunk is most frequently stabbed (54.5%) resulting in a laparotomy rate of 51%. One third of the patients who underwent thoraco-abdominal surgery revealed diaphragmatic injuries. Seventy-five percent of the patients left the hospital in a good condition while 2.4% had neuromuscular lesions. Two patients had serious vascular complications during follow-up. During the study period, no mortality was recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stab wounds were recorded mainly in young and middle-aged men from ethnic minorities, whereas almost 27% were under the influence of drugs. A conservative approach was generally used resulting in a low laparotomy and thoracotomy rate without affecting mortality. Neuromuscular lesions are important long-term complications of stab injuries.
authors.affiliation: Academic Surgical Centre Stuivenberg, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: El-Abdellati
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Messaoudi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Hee
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery