Cut Throat Injuries—A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Referral Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the socio demographic pattern, sex and age ratio, common causes, the most common site and extent of the injury in the patients with cut throat injury at our hospital. To compare the same with previous similar studies conducted at other centers in different parts of the world. Setting: Department of ENT, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, India from January 2013 to June 2014. Methods: A total of 51 cases of cut throat injury were included in the study. Separate proforma was prepared to collect the patients' data. Structured questionnaire was offered. Results: 51 cases of cut throat injury patients were included in the study. Age varied from 4 years to 80 years. Out of 51 cases, there were 43 males, 7 females and one male child. Male to female ratio was 6.2:1. All the patients were belonging to lower socioeconomic status (Kuppusamy class 5). Amongst them 26 cases (50.98%) were due to homicidal attack; 13 cases (25.49%) due to suicidal attempt; 7 cases (13.72%) due to road traffic accident; 4 cases (7.84%) due to bull gore injury; 1 case (1.96%) due to accidental fall. Emergency tracheostomy was done in 16 cases (33.33%). An average hospital stay for most of the patients was less than 3 weeks. 2 victims (3.92%) died due to haemorhage, aspiration pnuemonia and septicemia. Conclusions: Our study found that the majority of the victims were males of age between 20 years to 40 years from poor socioeconomic status. Social commitment and political motivation, decrease in the poverty, individual awareness, increase in economic growth, and literacy rate will prevent the cut throat injuries. Early and improved management will reduce the mortality and morbidity.

Cut throat injuries at a tertiary referral hospital in guwahati: a review of 165 cases

“…As per WHO, it is estimated that for every death 10-20 gets hospitalized and 50 -100 receives emergency care, indicating the burden on the resources of the country. Management of cut throat injury is a challenging task as the most important organs like larynx, In this review of 165 cases, most of the cut throat injury patients were youngmales in their third decade of life belonging mainly to rural areas, a finding which agrees with findings reported elsewhere, [3,10,11,14,15] .Most of these males had low education level andwere unemployed. Male preponderance in this age group is attributable to their active participation in risk taking behaviours and their frequent involvement in interpersonal violence.…”

“…Study conducted in the western population shows suicidal cut throat to be the most common cause, in contrast to our study. But in developing countries homicide is the most common cause for cut throat, [14,15] .Psychiatric illnesses are the strongest predictors of suicide. Suicide occurs 20.4 times more frequently in individuals with psychiatric illness than the general population, [15] .…”

Cut Throat Injury: Our Experience in Rural Set-Up

“…As per WHO, it is estimated that for every death 10-20 gets hospitalized and 50-100 receives emergency care, indicating the enormous burden on the resources of the country [12,13]. Management of cut throat injury is a challenging task as the most important organs like larynx, trachea, pharynx, carotids and nerves are present in a small confined area [1]. In this study, age incidence of the victims were 10 days to 68 years.…”

“…Cut throat injuries are one of the emergency conditions managed by ENT specialists [1]. In developing countries the incidence is increasing at a fast rate because of increasing conflict over limited resources, poor socioeconomic condition, unemployment, easy access to alcohol and increased crime rates [2].…”

A study of incidence, causes and management of cut throat injuries

“…In a study by Simpson et al, the most common zone in penetrating neck trauma was Zone II (64%) of cases. 13 Accordingly, in a study Peralta et al, the location of injury was Zone I (lower neck ) in 20 cases (15%), Zone II (midportion of neck) in 108 (81%) cases and Zone III (upper neck) in 5 (4%) cases. 14 In our study most of the patients reached the hospital within 6-12 hours following injury.…”