Stab wounds at a maximal-care trauma center—incidence from 2015 to 2024

In a study published back in 2023 by our supraregional trauma center, we already reported a rise in the number of stab wounds treated between July 2015 and December 2021. The German Police Crime Statistics (Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik, PKS) for Berlin show a similar picture over a number of years. In 2023, 8.6% more cases of bodily harm were recorded compared to the previous year. Of particular note here is the significant rise in the number of cases of dangerous and grievous bodily harm in public spaces (17.5%) as well as the use of knives as crime weapons (5%). Based on our observations during the 2024 treatment year, this article aims to provide an overview of the marked rise in the number of stab wounds treated at our center. During the study period, a total of 433 stab wounds were recorded. The majority of individuals with injuries (55% on average) presented to the hospital at night. A significant rise was observed at the study center in the number of stab wounds requiring treatment. While this injury etiology has been known for many years outside Europe, our data confirm a comparable increase in penetrating injuries at a maximal-care trauma center in Berlin, Germany.