An audit of stab wounds in Cardiff

The incidence of stabbings in the United Kingdom has not been determined. We audited all cases of stabbings presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Cardiff Royal Infirmary over an 18-month period from 1 January 1991. Over 122 000 new cases presented, 92 (0.075) with stab wounds, 48% of which required hospital admission. Stabbings accounted for 62 060 pounds of the surgical budget. There was a high incidence of self-inflicted stab wounds accounting for a significant proportion of the expenditure. This has not been reported previously.