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

  • Original Article
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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Dr. Munif Islamoglu Kastamonu State Hospital, Kastamonu, Turkey

    B. Ersen

  2. Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey

    R. Kahveci, O. Tunali & I. Aksu

  3. Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Bingol State Hospital, Bingöl, Turkey

    M. C. Saki

  4. UÜTF Plastik Cerrahi Polikliniği Görükle, Nilüfer, 16056, Bursa, Turkey

    B. Ersen

Authors
  1. B. Ersen
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  2. R. Kahveci
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  3. M. C. Saki
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  4. O. Tunali
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  5. I. Aksu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Ersen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Burak Ersen, Orhan Tunali, Ramazan Kahveci, Ismail Aksu, and Mehmet Can Saki declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Funding

None.

Consent

For this type of study, formal consent is not required. Only written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this accompanying image.

Ethical standards

This study has been approved by the appropriate ethics committee and has therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards set forth in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Ersen, B., Kahveci, R., Saki, M.C. et al. Analysis of 41 suicide attempts by wrist cutting: a retrospective analysis. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 43, 129–135 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0599-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0599-4

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