[Forensic medicine epidemiology].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Accident Prevention↗
Biomedical subjects
O Brink
Publications and source records attributed to O Brink.
[Late sequelae of violence seen from victims' perspective].
Hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments frequently treat victims of interpersonal violence. This study of 1,451 victims treated at the A&E departments of Aarhus University Hospital during a one-year period (1993-94) aims at illuminating some of the sequelae of victims. A questionnaire survey was carried out two years later to obtain information on medical after-treatment, the extent of sick leaves, and the victims' personal costs. One in two assault victims needed further medical treatment. 7.5% were admitted to hospital and 20% were referred to the out-patient clinic in the hospital or to follow-up treatment in general practice. The median sick leave period was eight days. Two years after the violence took place, 21.8% of all assault victims claimed that they had cosmetic sequelae, 14.7% had persistent pain. 38.1% said they were afraid to enter certain neighbourhoods or places; 41.2% had frequently or occasionally thought about the assault. The study has revealed some aspects of the personal costs, discomfort and trouble that victims of violence experience.
Adolescent↗
[Domestic violence].
The purpose of this study was to analyze the development in the incidence of violence against women committed by husband/spouse and violence against children committed by parents. This study is based on a prospective registration during a one year period (1993-94) of women and children who attended the casualty wards and/or the Department of Forensic Medicine because of exposure to violence. The results were compared with similar studies from 1981-82 and 1987-88. The incidence of domestic violence within the age group of 25-34 years (the major group) was in 1993-94 1.9 per 1000 per year, in 1981-82 1.7 and in 1987-88 2.9. Twelve percent of the women had been exposed to violence characterized as severe. Twenty (6.6%) women were registered more than once. Thirty-eight percent of Danish women and 25.8% of foreign women reported the incident to the police. The incidence of violence against children remained unchanged at 0.3 per 1000 per year during the three registration periods.
Adult↗
Pattern of injuries due to interpersonal violence.
The specific aim of this study was to find characteristics of violence-related injuries, its anatomic distribution and the mechanisms. During a one-year period 1481 consecutive assault victims were interviewed and examined at the Accident and Emergency departments or the Department of Forensic Medicine in Aarhus, Denmark. Information about 2432 violence-related injuries was analysed. The results showed significant differences in injury location, type of injury and injury mechanisms between male and female victims. 69% of all injuries were craniofacial. The injury mechanism was mostly blunt trauma by fist or feet. Cases with penetrating trauma, were predominantly caused by broken drinking glasses. Weapons such as knives and guns only caused 3.7% of all injuries. The results are similar to other studies.
Female↗
The epidemiology of violence in Denmark.
A 1-year prospective study was carried out to describe the epidemiological changes in interpersonal violence in Aarhus (Denmark) over a 12-year period. Data was collected from the Accident & Emergency department, the Department of Forensic Medicine, the local police and compared to previous studies carried out in 1981-1982 and 1987-1988. The incidence of violence was found to have declined significantly over the study period, but severity of violence remained unchanged. The composition of pubs, discotheques and cafes might be an important factor in reducing inner city violence. Police statistics alone may give a false picture of the assault rate. All of these factors are discussed.
Journal Article↗
Perioperative myocardial ischaemia in patients undergoing surgery for fractured hip randomized to incremental spinal, single-dose spinal or general anaesthesia.
Quantitative assessment of myocardial ischaemia during incremental spinal, single-dose spinal and general anaesthesia may provide guidelines for the choice of anaesthetic technique for osteosynthesis of hip fractures in the elderly atherosclerotic individual. Forty-three patients with coronary artery disease were allocated to receive either incremental spinal anaesthesia (bupivacaine 0.5% plain) (A), single-dose spinal anaesthesia (2.5 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% plain) (B) or general anaesthesia (fentanyl, thiopentone, atracurium, enflurane, N2O/O2) (C) for hip surgery. ST segment monitoring was performed from the induction of anaesthesia and for the following 48 h, and perioperative hypotension, blood loss and fluid therapy were recorded. ST depression developed in two out of 14 (A), seven out of 15 (B) and six out of 14 (C) patients (P = 0.14). In (A), a total of seven ST depressions occurred in the observation period as opposed to 125 in (B) and 16 in (C) (P < 0.05). Intra-operative ST depression only occurred in (B). Three (A), 33 (B) and 40 (C) hypotensive events were recorded (P < 0.002). Altogether, 56% of hypotensive patients developed ST depression compared with 10% of normotensive patients (P < 0.003). In (A), 1.6 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine were used as opposed to the fixed 2.5 mL dose in (B) (P < 0.001). In the first post-operative week, mortality was higher in (B) (P < 0.05) but, after 1 month, there was no significant difference in mortality between the three groups. The incidence of hypotension and myocardial ischaemia was lowest in the group receiving incremental spinal anaesthesia.
Aged↗
[Decline of violence in ]rhus. Violence registered in ]rhus hospital during a period of 12 years].
The aim of this study was to describe the changes in frequency and character of interpersonal violence in Aarhus during a twelve year period. A one year (1993-1994) prospective registration of all persons exposed to violence and attending the casualty wards or the Department of Forensic Medicine was performed. The results were compared with similar studies performed in 1981-1982 and 1987-1988. The incidence in the last one year period had decreased significantly to 5.5 cases/1000 inhabitants compared to 6.5 in 1981-1982 and 7.5 in 1987-1988. The decrease was most distinct among men between 15-24 years of age. Ninety percent of the lesions were minor and the severity did not differ from the former study. Among risk factors associated to severe violence were men between 25-49 years of age, foreigners, use of knives and domestic violence. Firearms were only involved in 0.8% of the cases. Significantly higher proportion of the victims reported the incidence to the police in 1993-1994 than previously.
Adult↗
Stable lateral malleolar fractures treated with aircast ankle brace and DonJoy R.O.M.-Walker brace: a prospective randomized study.
Stable lateral malleolar fractures can be treated with dynamic braces and early mobilization. In a randomized clinical trial, 66 patients with supination-eversion stage II fractures were treated with Aircast Air-Stirrup ankle braces or DonJoy R.O.M.-Walker braces. Average bracing time was 5 weeks, and average time until return to work was 6 weeks. At 4 weeks, 70% to 80% of patients were able to walk without pain. Subjective satisfaction with comfort and ease of use was significantly higher with Aircast, although it was high in both groups. Pain relief and an inflammatory score were significantly better in the R.O.M.-Walker group after 4 weeks. Three months after injury, no differences were observed in grade of ambulation, pain, swelling, range of motion, or inflammatory score. Both braces can be recommended.
Air↗
[Waiting lists--how valid are the official numbers? Evaluation of a waiting list at a department of orthopedic surgery].
With increasing waiting lists for admission to hospital, the aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of an orthopaedic waiting list. Questionnaires were sent to every patient listed as waiting for more than three months. The questionnaire addressed the current symptoms and the current need for surgical treatment. In case of no reply, a further evaluation was done before eventual removal from the waiting list. Of 809 questionnaires mailed, replies were received from 409. A total of 376 were removed from the list, including 111 due to registration errors in the central data base. This study has shown how the indication for operation changes during the waiting period but also that information from data bases can be most unreliable. We find the reasons so general, that we recommend a corresponding evaluation of other waiting lists. Altogether, today's waiting list is faulty and thus provides a wrong basis for management.
Denmark↗
A voice accumulation--validation and application.
Studies of vocal behavior under natural conditions require suitable techniques for obtaining records of voice use. We describe the operation of a newly designed voice accumulator that allows registration of fundamental frequency and phonation time during a 12-hour period. The device is based on microprocessors and allows accumulation of the voice fundamental frequency within 60-600 Hz. The voice signal is picked up by a contact microphone attached to the front part of the neck. Analysis of fundamental frequency distribution and phonation time is made on a personal computer. Validation of the device shows it to provide accurate measurements of fundamental frequency, although it tends to underestimate phonation time. In a field test, the accumulator was used to analyze vocal behavior during two work-days in a group of nurses and a group of speech pathologists. Overall, the speech pathologists had a lower fundamental frequency level and higher values of phonation time than the nurses. These field results confirm the validation of the voice accumulator.
Adult↗