A pilot study of 17 wrist-cutting suicide injuries in single institution: perspectives from a hand surgeon
Dublin Core
Title
A pilot study of 17 wrist-cutting suicide injuries in single institution: perspectives from a hand surgeon
Subject
Wrist cutting, Mental disorders, Suicide, Wrist injury, Hand surgery
Description
Background: Self-cutting is a special type of emergency in hand surgery. Despite its low mortality rate, it is
clinically significant because there is a possibility of permanent disability and repeated suicide attempts are likely to
occur. Therefore, we aim to understand the characteristics of self-inflicted wrist injuries and share the perspectives
from a hand surgeon in order to inform those who face these patients primarily in the emergency room.
Methods: We reviewed 17 patients with self-inflicted wrist injuries who were referred to the Department of Hand
surgery from the Emergency Medicine Department from 2013 to 2017. We investigated the differences in
demographic features (age, gender, psychological diagnosis, alcohol consumption, prior suicide attempts) and
clinical features (injury side, injury pattern, anatomical structures, distance from wrist crease).
Results: Among the patients, 4 were female and 13 were male. 70.6% of patients (12/17) had injuries on the left
wrist and 94.1% of patients (16/17) had injuries on the flexor side. The average distance from the wrist crease to the
injured site was 3.43 cm and 90.5% (19/21) of total injuries had an average distance of was less than 5 cm. The most
frequently injured structures were palmaris longus tendon (58.5%, 10/17). 52.9% (9/17) of patients, among which 6
of the 8 patients with deep injuries and 3 of the 9 patients with superficial injuries, had a history of a psychiatric
disorder.
Conclusions: We conclude that a male with a previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder has a higher chance of
inflicting a deeper injury. In addition, self-cutting injuries are highly predictable because most of these injuries occur
on the flexor side of the left wrist and are limited to a distance of 5 cm from the wrist crease. In terms of the
implements used in self-inflicted injuries, we can predict the type of damage to some degree depending on the
type of implement used. In view of these characteristics, more appropriate evaluation can be implemented in the
emergency room and those who deal with these patients primarily can cope more effectively for better long-term
results.
clinically significant because there is a possibility of permanent disability and repeated suicide attempts are likely to
occur. Therefore, we aim to understand the characteristics of self-inflicted wrist injuries and share the perspectives
from a hand surgeon in order to inform those who face these patients primarily in the emergency room.
Methods: We reviewed 17 patients with self-inflicted wrist injuries who were referred to the Department of Hand
surgery from the Emergency Medicine Department from 2013 to 2017. We investigated the differences in
demographic features (age, gender, psychological diagnosis, alcohol consumption, prior suicide attempts) and
clinical features (injury side, injury pattern, anatomical structures, distance from wrist crease).
Results: Among the patients, 4 were female and 13 were male. 70.6% of patients (12/17) had injuries on the left
wrist and 94.1% of patients (16/17) had injuries on the flexor side. The average distance from the wrist crease to the
injured site was 3.43 cm and 90.5% (19/21) of total injuries had an average distance of was less than 5 cm. The most
frequently injured structures were palmaris longus tendon (58.5%, 10/17). 52.9% (9/17) of patients, among which 6
of the 8 patients with deep injuries and 3 of the 9 patients with superficial injuries, had a history of a psychiatric
disorder.
Conclusions: We conclude that a male with a previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder has a higher chance of
inflicting a deeper injury. In addition, self-cutting injuries are highly predictable because most of these injuries occur
on the flexor side of the left wrist and are limited to a distance of 5 cm from the wrist crease. In terms of the
implements used in self-inflicted injuries, we can predict the type of damage to some degree depending on the
type of implement used. In view of these characteristics, more appropriate evaluation can be implemented in the
emergency room and those who deal with these patients primarily can cope more effectively for better long-term
results.
Creator
Jong-Ho Kim, Hyokyung Yoo and Seokchan Eun
Publisher
BMC Emergency Medicine
Date
(2021) 21:40
Contributor
Fajar bagus W
Format
PDF
Language
Indonesia
Type
Text
Files
Collection
Citation
Jong-Ho Kim, Hyokyung Yoo and Seokchan Eun, “A pilot study of 17 wrist-cutting suicide injuries in single institution: perspectives from a hand surgeon,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 4, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/3591.