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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 1/2017

01-02-2017 | Original Article

Analysis of 41 suicide attempts by wrist cutting: a retrospective analysis

Authors: B. Ersen, R. Kahveci, M. C. Saki, O. Tunali, I. Aksu

Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Self-cutting injuries have a low mortality rate, but this type of injuries has special clinical significance because they have the potential of leading to devastating disability and repeated suicide attempts. The purpose of this study is to analyze the nature and outcomes of wrist-cutting injuries.

Material and method

A retrospective study was designed in order to investigate 41 suicide attempts by wrist cutting attended to Uludag University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Department between June 2008 and December 2014. The patients were analyzed for age, gender, alcohol intake, psychological state, prior suicide attempts, and clinical features such as injury side, injury pattern, and used tool.

Results

It was seen that the severity of wrist-cutting injury variates between gender and age.

Conclusion

Alcohol or drug consumption and having a diagnosed psychiatric disorder create a higher risk for extensive wrist lacerations. It was seen that skin only lacerations were most likely to repeat the act and therefore are most in need of psychiatric intervention.

Level of evidence

Level III, retrospective study.
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Metadata
Title
Analysis of 41 suicide attempts by wrist cutting: a retrospective analysis
Authors
B. Ersen
R. Kahveci
M. C. Saki
O. Tunali
I. Aksu
Publication date
01-02-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1863-9933
Electronic ISSN: 1863-9941
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0599-4

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