Stab wound
Encyclopedia
A stab wound is a specific form of penetrating trauma
that results from a knife
, or a similar pointed object that is "deeper than it is wide". Most stabbing
s occur because of intentional violence
or through self infliction
. Typically deaths caused by stabbings are due to organ failure
or blood loss.
in Canada and the USA. They are the mechanism of approximately 2% of suicide
.
is the most commonly injured area from a stab wound because in most cases stab wounds occur below the nipple and penetrate the abdomen. Interventions that may be needed are airway
control and intravenous access; pressure on a bleeding wound may reduce blood loss. The length and size of the knife blade
may be important in planning management.
in most cases results in delayed complications sometimes can can lead to death
. Special precautions should also be used to prevent further injury from a perpetrator to the victim in a hospital
setting.
Stab wounds occur four times more than gunshot wounds in the United Kingdom, but the mortality rate
associated with stabbing has ranged from 0-4% as 85% of injuries sustained from stab wounds only affect subcutaneous tissue
. Generally, attacks motivated by religious or political disagreement tend to be more violent and therefore have higher mortality rates than other attacks. Most assault
s resulting in a stab wound occur to men and persons of ethnic minorities.
was performed in 1896 by Ludwig Rehn
, in what is now considered the first case of heart surgery.
Penetrating trauma
Penetrating trauma is an injury that occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters a tissue of the body, creating an open wound. In blunt, or non-penetrating trauma, there may be an impact, but the skin is not necessarily broken. The penetrating object may remain in the tissues, come back out...
that results from a knife
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
, or a similar pointed object that is "deeper than it is wide". Most stabbing
Stabbing
A stabbing is penetration with a sharp or pointed object at close range. Stab connotes purposeful action, as by an assassin or murderer, but it is also possible to accidentally stab oneself or others.Stabbing differs from slashing or cutting in that the motion of the object used in a stabbing...
s occur because of intentional violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
or through self infliction
Self-inflicted wound
A self-inflicted wound , is the act of harming oneself where there are no underlying psychological problems related to the self-injury, but where the injurer wanted to take advantage of being injured.-Reasons to self-wound:...
. Typically deaths caused by stabbings are due to organ failure
Organ failure
Organ dysfunction is a condition where an organ does not perform its expected function. Organ failure is organ dysfunction to such a degree that normal homeostasis cannot be maintained without external clinical intervention.It is not a diagnosis...
or blood loss.
Cause
Stabbings are a relatively common cause of homicideHomicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
in Canada and the USA. They are the mechanism of approximately 2% of suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Management
Stab wounds can cause various internal injuries. The abdomenAbdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
is the most commonly injured area from a stab wound because in most cases stab wounds occur below the nipple and penetrate the abdomen. Interventions that may be needed are airway
Airway
The pulmonary airway comprises those parts of the respiratory system through which air flows, conceptually beginning at the nose and mouth, and terminating in the alveoli...
control and intravenous access; pressure on a bleeding wound may reduce blood loss. The length and size of the knife blade
Blade
A blade is that portion of a tool, weapon, or machine with a cutting edge and/or a pointed tip that is designed to cut and/or puncture, stab, slash, chop, slice, thrust, or scrape animate or inanimate surfaces or materials...
may be important in planning management.
Surgery
Surgical intervention may be needed. It is important for care providers to thoroughly check the wound site inasmuch as a laceration of an arteryArtery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
in most cases results in delayed complications sometimes can can lead to death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. Special precautions should also be used to prevent further injury from a perpetrator to the victim in a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
setting.
Epidemiology
In Canada homicides by stabbing and gun shot occur relatively equally (1008 to 980 for the years 2005 to 2009). In the United States guns are a more common method of homicide (9,484 verses 1,897 for stabbing or cutting in 2008).Stab wounds occur four times more than gunshot wounds in the United Kingdom, but the mortality rate
Mortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
associated with stabbing has ranged from 0-4% as 85% of injuries sustained from stab wounds only affect subcutaneous tissue
Subcutaneous tissue
The hypodermis, also called the hypoderm, subcutaneous tissue, or superficial fascia is the lowermost layer of the integumentary system in vertebrates. Types of cells that are found in the hypodermis are fibroblasts, adipose cells, and macrophages...
. Generally, attacks motivated by religious or political disagreement tend to be more violent and therefore have higher mortality rates than other attacks. Most assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
s resulting in a stab wound occur to men and persons of ethnic minorities.
History
The first successful operation on a person who was stabbed in the heartHeart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
was performed in 1896 by Ludwig Rehn
Ludwig Rehn
Ludwig Wilhelm Carl Rehn was a German surgeon. Rehn was born in 1849, in the village of Allendorf, the youngest of five children...
, in what is now considered the first case of heart surgery.