Attacks with corrosive substances are increasing in UK

Gründlingh, Johann; Payne, Jessie; Hassan, T B

doi:10.1136/bmj.j3640

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…18 Many of these attacks are related to gangs, with men being twice as likely as women to be the victims. 13 It will be interesting to see if these legislative changes will translate to a reduced incidence of assault-related SOCI and further studies similar to ours and that of Bizrah and coworkers are advocated. 16 An interesting result from our study is that 40% (10/25) of our patients were lost to follow-up as they DNA subsequent review appointments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…In the UK, particularly in metropolitan centres such as London, there has been a rapid rise in chemical assault or so-called 'acid' attacks. 13 This increase has received significant attention in the press with a number of high-profile attacks, with the incidence increasing by 65% in 2017 alone. 14 In London, the Metropolitan Police recorded an increase from 162 cases in 2012 to 454 in 2016; this number is higher than all the chemical assaults recorded in India that year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14 In London, the Metropolitan Police recorded an increase from 162 cases in 2012 to 454 in 2016; this number is higher than all the chemical assaults recorded in India that year. 13 However, a retrospective study from a leading national burns centre in London questions whether this increase that is being reported in the national press is translating into a similar increase in chemical burn presentations. 15 The aim of this study was to investigate the number and causes of SOCI presentations per year over a 3-year period at Moorfields Eye Hospital, a central London tertiary referral eye hospital with a 24-hour ophthalmic emergency department.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assault-related severe ocular chemical injury at a London ophthalmic referral hospital: a 3-year retrospective observational study

2020

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ObjectivesTo understand the incidence, causes, management and outcomes of intentional (assault) and unintentional severe ocular chemical injuries (SOCI) at an urban tertiary referral centre in the UK.DesignRetrospective observational study.SettingA London tertiary referral ophthalmic centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital.ParticipantsAll cases of SOCI presenting between 1 September 2011 and 31 August 2014 were identified. The definition of SOCI was grade 3 or 4 on the Hughes-Roper-Hall classification system. We identified 25 cases (6 in 2011–2012, 8 in 2012–2013, 11 in 2013–2014). Median age was 31.1 years. 23 cases (92%) were male.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the proportion of cases of SOCI caused by assault, per year. Secondary outcome measures included the number of cases of SOCI, injury characteristics and mechanism, initial and long-term management, visual outcome and the need for surgical intervention.ResultsBetween 2011 and 2012, 3/6 cases were due to assault (50%); between 2012 and 2013, 7/8 were due to assault (87.5%); and between 2013 and 2014, 6/11 were due to assault (54.4%). Assault was responsible for 16/25 (64%) cases overall, while 8/25 (32%) cases were work related. The causative agent was known to be alkali in 16/25 (64%), while 10/25 (40%) did not complete the follow-up. The mean number of clock hours of limbal ischaemia was 5.24 (SD 2.97). 17/25 (68%) were Hughes-Roper-Hall grade 3. Surgical intervention occurred in 1/25. The final best-corrected visual acuity was 6/12 or worse in 11/25 (44%) and was counting fingers or worse in 4/25 (16%).ConclusionsPrevious studies found that SOCI had a low incidence and that work-related injuries were the most common cause. Our study demonstrates an increasing incidence of SOCI, which may be accounted for by a rise in assault using corrosive substances. A high number of patients did not attend regularly for follow-up and visual outcomes from these injuries are poor.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Assault-related severe ocular chemical injury at a London ophthalmic referral hospital: a 3-year retrospective observational study

2020

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“…The incidence of acid attacks in developed countries is significantly lower (Olaitan & Jiburum, ; Waldron et al., ). However, there has been a rise in acid attacks in the UK over the past decade which is largely attributable to gang crime (Grundlingh, Payne, & Hassan, ; Tan, Bharj, Nizamoglu, Barnes, & Dziewulski, ; Twoon, Tan, & Dziewulski, ). While this trend has been reported widely in the media, there is limited empirical literature describing attacks in the UK and other Western countries (Sugrue, Reilly, Kelly, & Clover, ; Tan et al., ).…”

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confidence: 99%