Fractures in infants: a sign of child abuse.
Fractures occurring in children under one year of age were reviewed retrospectively. Forty-nine such patients presented to the emergency department at Children's Hospital of Michigan in 1978. Twenty-two of these fractures were thought to represent physical abuse. Physical abuse was considered when: 1) the history was incompatible, discrepant, variable or unexplained; 2) associated physical findings were present; 3) unusual fractures were present; 4) there was a known history of previous abuse/neglect; 5) there had been delay in seeking medical aid. A suggested method of dealing with this particular type of patient is presented.
D000328:Adult; D002649:Child Abuse; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012189:Retrospective Studies