Cited by 108Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesGun Ownership and Violence ResearchCOVID-19 and healthcare impacts

Penetrating trauma during a global pandemic:changing patterns in interpersonal violence, self-harm and domestic violence in the Covid-19 outbreak.

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Olding, James, Zisman, Sophia, Olding, Carole, Fan, Kathleen·2021·The Surgeon

Abstract

Introduction The restrictions imposed on social activity in response to the Covid-19 pandemic have had a profound impact globally. In the UK, the NHS was placed on a war-footing, with elective surgery, face-to-face outpatient clinics, and community care facilities all scaled back as a temporary measure to redistribute scarce resources. There has been concern during this period over increasing levels of violence in the domestic setting, as well as self-harm.Methods Data was collected on all patients presenting with traumatic penetrating injuries during the 'lockdown' period of 23rd March to 29th April 2020. Demographics and injury details were compared with the same period in the two preceding years.Results Overall trauma fell by 35% compared with the previous year. Over one in four penetrating injuries seen were a result of self-harm, which was significantly higher than in previous years (11% in 2019, 2% in 2018). There were two cases of injuries due to domestic violence, while a total of 4 cases of injury arose in separate violent domestic incidents. Self-harm commonly involved penetrating injury to the neck.Discussion Our centre has seen an increase in the proportion of penetrating injuries as a result of both self-harm and violence in the domestic setting. The number of penetrating neck injury cases, which can represent suicidal intent or a major presentation of psychiatric illness, is of particular concern. We must further investigate the effect of social restrictions on violent injury, and how home confinement may influence a changing demographic picture of victims.

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Authors
Olding, J., Zisman, S., Olding, C., & Fan, K.
Affiliations
  • King's College Hospital (GB)
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Fan, Kathleen
Venue
The Surgeon
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-02
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
e9-e13
ISSN
1479-666X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3045860372
Cited by
106
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 4
FWCI
8.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Surgeon (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Health › Gun Ownership and Violence Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
Keywords
penetrating trauma, COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown, self-harm, domestic violence, interpersonal violence, cervical spine injury, suicidal intent, social restrictions, injury trends, elective surgery cancellation
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adult, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Retrospective Studies, Wounds, Penetrating, Self-Injurious Behavior, Domestic Violence, Pandemics

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