Emergency Department Visits After Body Piercings

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• Dermatology

Background:

• Body piercing injuries (BPI) are increasingly prevalent, yet comprehensive data on their frequency and associated complications in the United States remain limited.
• Understanding the epidemiology of BPI is crucial for developing effective public health interventions and patient safety guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits for body piercing injuries (BPI) in the US from 2011-2020.
• To estimate the prevalence of BPI among individuals aged 24 years and younger.
• To analyze associated complications, including infection, hospitalization, and transfer rates, and identify risk factors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database.
• Analysis of ED visits for BPI between 2011 and 2020.
• Statistical analysis to estimate prevalence, infection rates, hospitalization/transfer requirements, and significant associations with injury location and demographics.

Main Results:

• An estimated 338,972 BPIs occurred in the US between 2011-2020, with the majority affecting females (85%) and individuals aged ≤24 years (55%), primarily involving ear piercings (71%).
• Foreign bodies accounted for 72.6% of BPIs, and 13% of ED visits were associated with infection, with 3% of these requiring hospitalization or transfer.
• Pubic region piercings were 16.8 times more likely to require hospitalization than ear piercings, and navel, nipple, and oral piercings showed increased odds of infection compared to ear piercings.

Conclusions:

• Body piercing injuries represent a significant public health concern, particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults.
• Body piercing location and patient age are critical factors influencing BPI rates, infection risk, and the need for hospitalization.
• Further research is needed to establish annual body piercing numbers in the US to inform targeted risk reduction strategies and counseling for high-risk groups.