Clinical ArticlesMaxillofacial injuries associated with domestic violence*
Section snippets
Patients and methods
The records of 236 patients treated for domestic violence injuries between the beginning of January 1992 and the end of December 1996 at an inner-city level I trauma hospital (Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Portland, OR) were retrospectively reviewed. Using the Emanuel ER Registry, information was requested on all women who gave a positive history of being intentionally injured by their spouse or sexual partner during this period. Data were collected on type and location of injury, mechanism of
Results
The results are based on the records of 236 consecutive emergency room admissions for domestic violence. Mean patient age was 31.4 years, with a range between 15 and 71 years. All cases were females. One hundred fifty-five (66%) patients had reported previous abuse. Thirty-four patients (14%) had injuries severe enough to require admission to the hospital. One patient died as a result of her injuries.
The majority (78%) of victims were single, separated, or divorced. One hundred and seventy-nine
Discussion
This is a retrospective study of 236 consecutive emergency room visits of patients who sustained injuries as a result of domestic violence. The patients included in this study were obtained from the LEHHC Patient Registry. Data for this registry, started in 1983, are collected at multiple points of entry. The data are entered and E-coded based on the nature of the disease, mechanism of injury, trauma, etc. Only those patients designated through an E code as injured by interpersonal violence by
References (19)
- et al.
Jaw fractures in the county of Stockholm
Int J Oral Surg
(1984) - et al.
Facial fractures: The results of a prospective four-year study
J Maxillofac Surg
(1984) - et al.
The different patterns of fractures of the facial skeleton in four European countries
Int J Oral Surg
(1977) - et al.
Prevalence of domestic violence in the United States
J Am Med Womens Assoc
(1996) - et al.
A population-based study of injuries in inner-city women
Am J Epidemiol
(1991) - et al.
Men, women, and murder: Gender-specific differences in rates of fatal violence and victimization
J Trauma
(1992) Fractures of the malar (zygomatic) bone
J R Coll Surg Edinb
(1977)Changing etiologic pattern of jaw fractures
The Neurologic Examination
(1958)
Cited by (0)
- *
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Le: 273 East Glenarm St, #5, Pasadena, CA 91106; e-mail: [email protected]