Comparing the Incidence of Assault-Induced Trauma Patients in Assiut University and Suez Canal University Hospitals

Aim of this research is to compare between the incidence of assault-induced trauma in patients attending to trauma unit at Assiut University Hospital and trauma unit at Suez Canal University Hospital

Trauma is the third leading cause of death in all age groups after cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, trauma is the most common cause of death in the age of first four decades. There are many types of major trauma, an important one of which is the assault-induced trauma.

Assault-Induced Trauma is a potentially life-threatening emergency that often requires a multidisciplinary approach, as Assault-Induced Trauma can contribute substantially to death, permanent disability and chronic illness.

Assault may be said to be intentional violent bodily contact with another person without consent. Assault occurs when an individual or a group provokes and attacks another person with or without the use of a weapon.

Injuries yield from such type of trauma are variable and complex, with the predominance of young males as a victims. Wide variety of injuries range from isolated wound to complex injuries affecting multi-organs.

According to the severity of Assault-Induced injuries and the need for more diagnostic and therapeutic intervention hospital stay can be determined for those patients.

Studies conducted in the USA for analysis of non-fatal assault injuries has shown that 87% of patients were treated and discharged without the need for inpatient admission.

With the improvement in the approach adopted for treatment of assaulted patients, treatment modalities have shifted toward a more conservative approach than an invasive approach that was practiced previously.

Assault induced injuries commonly caused by the use of body force, blunt trauma and sharp objects.

Previous studies done has shown that male gender in their 20s and 30s is a high risk groups and showed also that incidence is related to the economic and political state of the community.

Studies done in Europe and United Kingdom demonstrated that factors such as unemployment, low socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption increase assault rates. On the other hand, high level of education serves as a positive protective factor against Assault prevalence.

Late reports in USA demonstrates the decline in nonfatal assault injuries among young population compared to previous analyses.

The decline refers to increased implementation and beneficial outcome of evidence-based prevention strategies that reach young patients in USA.

Unfortunately, there is no previous studies in our community discussing this problem and there is no recent official statistics that can help in determining how huge the problem is, and point to the factors that can be taken as a base to the future plans to solve the problem.

This study aims to characterize cases of assault-induced trauma victims presenting to trauma unit in Assiut University Hospital in comparison to trauma unit in Suez Canal University Hospital. This will aid in analysis of the incidence of the problem and estimate the effectiveness of current management methods.

Presence of such type of researches will enhance the health service delivered to targeted groups and will encourage further researches.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Assault-induced trauma cases admitted to the emergency unit and ICU department of:

* All age groups.
* During one year from the start of the study(6 months in Suez Canal University Hospital and 6 months in Assiut University Hospital).
* Victims with isolated wound or complex injuries

Exclusion Criteria:

* Self-inflicted injuries.
* Accidental injuries.
* Patients with insufficient data.
* Victims of assault who died prior to their arrival at the hospital.