Background Adolescent is a time of heightened violence and the frequency of engaging in violent behaviour is greater for adolescents than for all other age groups. A better understanding of factors related to assault among adolescents is important to reduce the incident. This study described and characterised the socio-demographic factors, circumstances and characteristic of assault in emergency department.

Methods A descriptive study was carried on 140 patients at ER, Yangon General Hospital during one year. Adolescent assault victims with musculoskeletal injuries were collected involving demographic details, circumstances of injury, characteristics of injury and initial treatment parameter.

Results Among the 140 respondents, males (80%) and females (20%) reported been an assault. Males were more likely to have been in a physical fight. The majority of cases (47.1%) were of low educational status (primary education). Casual workers and dependent were the most common group among the injured, occurred at public place during night time. Blunt object (81%) were the most common weapons used. Head and neck were commonly affected in over half of cases (58%) and soft tissue injuries (90%) were the most frequent type. 71% of the patients were treated as out-patients.

Conclusion assaults are responsible for significant morbidity and may be an important opportunity for prevention. Socioeconomic status, contributing factors and injury characteristics identified to this study should help strategies for preventing adolescent assault.