Hospital Visits Related to Head and Neck Injuries and Domestic Abuse: A Report From 2017 to 2024 in Saskatchewan, Canada
AI Summary
Domestic abuse accounted for 0.10% of 490,180 head and neck injury hospital visits in Saskatchewan (510 cases) between 2017 and 2024.
Cases disproportionately involved women (83.1%), predominantly adults aged 21 to 40, most commonly perpetrated by intimate partners.
Superficial head injuries were most frequent; intracranial injuries 12%; about one third required imaging, underscoring need for improved screening and interdisciplinary training.
INTRODUCTION: Domestic abuse is a significant public health issue associated with physical harm and long-term health consequences. Injuries involving the head, face, and oral region are among the most frequent physical manifestations, making oral and maxillofacial trauma a potentially critical indicator of abuse in clinical settings. This study aimed to examine the occurrence, demographic characteristics, and injury patterns of head and neck trauma associated with domestic abuse using provincial hospital-based data from Saskatchewan, Canada.
METHODS: A retrospective population-based analysis was conducted using the Health Research Data Platform-Saskatchewan. Records from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) and the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) were reviewed for the period of 2017-2024. ICD-10-CA and CCI codes were used to identify head and neck injuries and cases in which the injuries were documented as related to domestic abuse. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
RESULTS: Among 490,180 hospital visits for head and neck injuries, 510 were identified as domestic abuse-related, corresponding to 0.10% of all visits. Most cases involved women (83.1%), with the highest proportion occurring among adults aged 21-40 years. Physical abuse was the most frequently documented type, followed by sexual abuse, and intimate partners were the most common perpetrators. Superficial head injuries were the leading presentation (37%), followed by other head injuries (34%) and intracranial injuries (12%). About one-third of cases required imaging, indicating a substantial burden of clinically significant trauma.
CONCLUSIONS: Domestic abuse-related head and neck injuries in Saskatchewan disproportionately affect young adult women and are most often linked to intimate partner violence. These findings support the need for improved screening, stronger interdisciplinary training, and better integration of domestic abuse recognition into healthcare and dental practice.
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