Injuries and allegations of oral rape: A retrospective review of patients presenting to a London sexual assault referral centre

• We documented oral injuries of 95 patients reporting oral rape.
• We looked at prevalence, type and location of injuries.
• Eighteen sustained oral injury, most typically abrasions.
• Most common location of injury was the lips.
• Injuries were minor and did not require treatment.

A retrospective review was carried out of patients seen at the Haven sexual assault referral centre in South East London between January 2009 and September 2010 to determine the frequency and nature of oral injuries found in people reporting oral rape. Ninety five eligible patients were identified and relevant information was extracted from standardised Haven forms completed during forensic medical examination. The main outcome measures were prevalence, type and location of oral injury. Eighteen (19%) were found to have sustained an oral injury. The most common injury was abrasions, followed by bruising and petechiae. The lips were the most common site of injury followed by the soft palate and the inside of the cheeks. It was concluded that injuries in the mouth were not common after an allegation of oral rape. Injuries were minor and did not require treatment.