Self-cannibalism: the man who eats himself

West J Emerg Med. 2014 Sep;15(6):701-2. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2014.6.22705.

Abstract

Self-mutilation is a general term for a variety of forms of intentional self-harm without the wish to die. Although there have been many reports of self-mutilation injuries in the literature, none have reported self-cannibalism after self-mutilation. In this article we present a patient with self-cannibalism following self-mutilation. A 34-year-old male patient was brought to the emergency department from the prison with a laceration on the right leg. Physical examination revealed a well-demarcated rectangular soft tissue defect on his right thigh. The prison authorities stated that the prisoner had cut his thigh with a knife and had eaten the flesh.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cannibalism / psychology*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prisoners / psychology
  • Self Mutilation / diagnosis*
  • Self Mutilation / psychology