title: Fractures in early childhood: osteogenesis imperfecta or child abuse?
abstract: We studied the radiographs of 194 fractures sustained by 39 children less than 5 years of age with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and compared them with radiographs of 84 fractures sustained by 69 normal children of the same age. A great variety of fracture patterns was observed in undoubted OI. Spiral and transverse fractures were the most common. Metaphyseal fractures accounted for 15% of the fractures. The results of this study do not support the view that a particular fracture pattern renders the diagnosis of OI unlikely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Dundee, Scotland.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Paterson
mesh_terms: D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography