Pattern of injuries due to interpersonal violence

The specific aim of this study was to find characteristics of violence-rela ted injuries, its anatomic distribution and the mechanisms. During a one-ye ar period 1481 consecutive assault victims were interviewed and examined at the Accident and Emergency departments or the Department of Forensic Medic ine in Aarhus, Denmark. Information about 2432 violence-related injuries wa s analysed. The results showed significant differences in injury location, type of injury and injury mechanisms between male and female victims. 69% o f all injuries were craniofacial. The injury mechanism was mostly blunt tra uma by fist or feet. Cases with penetrating trauma, were predominantly caus ed by broken drinking glasses. Weapons such as knives and grins only caused 3.7% of all injuries. The results are similar to other studies. (C) 1998 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.