Are Self-Inflicted Stab Wounds Less Severe Than Assaults? Analysis of Injury and Severity by Intent

Although there is evidence that self-inflicted abdominal stab wounds are less severe than those from assault, it is unclear if this is true in other anatomic regions. This study compares severity and injury pattern between self-inflicted stab wounds (SISWs) and wounds from assault (ASW). Stab wounds from our level I trauma registry from 2013 to 2018 were reviewed. Data included age, gender, self-inflicted versus assault, psychiatric or substance use history, anatomic location, operative intervention, injury severity, length of stay, and outcomes. Over the study period, 1390 patients were identified. History of psychiatric diagnoses or previous suicide attempts was more frequent in SISWs (47% versus 6.5%, P