title: Healing of genital injuries.
abstract: Child sexual abuse as well as accidental trauma may cause acute injuries in the anogenital area. Most data on residual findings following genital trauma come from longitudinal studies of children who have been sexually assaulted, undergone surgical procedures, or experienced accidental trauma. Like injuries in other part parts of the body, such injuries undergo a predictable pattern of healing. Most superficial injuries heal without any residual evidence. Deeper injuries, as well as those that become infected or experience repeated disruption, may produce permanent changes. While the presence of such changes supports allegations of prior anogenital trauma, their absence does not preclude the trauma from having occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90509, USA. carolb@pol.net
authors.forename: Carol D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006924:Hymen / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014945:Wound Healing