Citation

Schellenberg M, Inaba K, Cho J, Tatum JM, Barmparas G, Strumwasser A, Grabo D, Bir C, Eastman A, Demetriades D. J. Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017; 83(6): 1124-1128.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000001636

PMID

28697021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Injuries sustained by civilians from interaction with police are a polarizing contemporary sociopolitical issue. Few comprehensive studies have been published using national hospital-based data. The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of these injuries to better understand this mechanism of injury.

METHODS: Patients entered into the NTDB (01/2007 - 12/2012) with E-codes E970.0-E976.0 (ICD-9-CM), identifying injuries associated with law enforcement in the course of legal action, were enrolled. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, procedures, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Patients injured by other civilians (E960.0-E968.0) were used for comparison.

RESULTS: Of 4,146,428 patients in the NTDB, 7203 (0.17%) were injured during interaction with police. The number of patients in consecutive study years was 858, 1103, 1148, 1274, 1316, and 1504. The incidence of these injuries was stable over time (0.17-0.18%) (p=0.129). Patients had a median age of 31 years (range 0-108) and 94.3% were male. Median ISS was 9 (IQR 4-17). The most common mechanism of injury was gunshot wounds (GSW) (44%).Patients were 43% White, 30% Black, 17% Hispanic, 1% Asian, and 9% Other. As a proportion of the total race-specific NTDB trauma population, there was an average of 1.13 White patients, 2.71 Hispanic patients, and 3.83 Black patients per 1,000. Mechanism, ISS, and outcomes did not vary by race. Compared to patients injured by civilians, patients injured by police are more likely to be White (43% vs 25%, p<0.001) and injured by GSW (44% vs 32%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on data from trauma centers across the US, the rate of injuries sustained during interactions with police has been stable over time. Gunshot wounds are the most common mechanism of injury. Proportionally, Black patients are the most frequently injured race. When compared to patients injured by civilians, however, patients injured by police are more likely to be White. This study provides a step towards a better understanding of police-associated injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IIISTUDY TYPE: Case-control study.

Language: en