Background: Physical assault is common in trauma patients. Penetrating injuries resulting from interpersonal violence have been well described in literature, but there have been few studies examining the injury patterns due to assaults with hands and feet or blunt instruments.
Methods: The Trauma Registry of an American College of Surgeons Level I center was queried for all patients with an E-code diagnosis of assault by hands and feet or blunt instrument for the period of January 1, 1992 to September 30, 2005. Demographic and injury pattern data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of mortality.
Results: There were 3,286 patients identified (89.7% male) with a mean age of 36 years +/- 13 years and mean injury severity score of 8 +/- 7. Overall, 65 (2.0%) patients required laparotomy, 10 (0.3%) required craniectomy, and 1 (0.03%) patient required thoracotomy. Traumatic brain injury was present in 66.5% (2,184). Mortality was 2.4% (80). Patients older than 55 years were more likely to be severely injured (injury severity score > or = 16) (23.4% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.001) and were more likely to die of injuries (4.8% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.05). Nineteen (0.6%) patients had documented fractures of the cervical spine and cervical spinal cord injury was not observed in any patient.
Conclusions: Injuries due to assault rarely require operative intervention and have a low risk of cervical spine or cord injuries. However, many result in traumatic brain injury. Patients older than 55 years tend to be more severely injured and at higher risk of mortality.