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A stab wound is a specific form of penetrating trauma to the skin that results from a knife or a similar pointed object. (2025). 9780803615595, F a Davis Co. ISBN 9780803615595 While stab wounds are typically known to be caused by knives, they can also occur from a variety of implements, including broken bottles and ice picks. Most occur because of intentional violence or through Self-harm. The treatment is dependent on many different variables such as the anatomical location and the severity of the injury. Even though stab wounds are inflicted at a much greater rate than , they account for less than 10% of all penetrating trauma deaths.
To determine if internal bleeding is present a focused assessment with sonography (FAST) or diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) can be used. Other diagnostic tests such as a computed tomography scan or various contrast medium can be used to more definitively classify the injury in both severity and location. (2025). 9781880696316, American College of Surgeons. ISBN 9781880696316 Local wound exploration is also another technique that may be utilized to determine how far the object penetrated. Observation can be used in place of surgery as it can substitute an unnecessary surgery, which makes it the preferred treatment of penetrating trauma secondary to a stab wound when hypovolemia or shock is not present. (2025). 9780323065023, Mosby/JEMS. ISBN 9780323065023 Laboratory diagnostic studies such as a hematocrit, white blood cell count and chemical tests such as liver function tests can also help to determine the efficiency of care.
In Canada, homicides by stabbing and gunshot occur relatively equally (1,008 to 980 for the years 2005 to 2009). Homicides by method In the United States guns are a more common method of homicide (9,484 versus 1,897 for stabbing or cutting in 2008).
Stab wounds occur four times more than Gunshot wound 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. In Belgium, most resulting in a stab wound occur to and by men and persons of ethnic minorities.
History
Some of the first principles of wound care come from Hippocrates who promoted keeping wounds dry except for irrigation. Guy de Chauliac would promote removal of foreign bodies, rejoining of severed tissues, maintenance of tissue continuity, preservation of organ substance, and prevention of complications. The first successful operation on a person who was stabbed in the heart was performed in 1896 by Ludwig Rehn, in what is now considered the first case of heart surgery. In the late 1800s it was hard to treat stab wounds because of poor transportation of victims to health facilities and the low ability for surgeons to effectively repair organs. However, the use of laparotomy, which has been developed a few years earlier, had provided better patient outcomes than had been seen before. After its inception, the use of exploratory laparotomies was highly encouraged for "all deep stab wounds" in which surgeons were to stop active bleeding, repair damage, and remove "devitalized tissues". Because laparotomies were seen to benefit patients, they were used on most every person with an abdominal stab wound until the 1960s when doctors were encouraged to use them more selectivity in favor of observation. During the Korean War, a greater emphasis was put on the use of pressure dressings and tourniquets to initially control bleeding.
See also
Bibliography
(2025). 9780071663519, McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 9780071663519
External links
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