title: Sentinel injuries: subtle findings of physical abuse.
abstract: Injuries, other than abrasions, are rare in precruising infants. In this population, a history or observation of a sentinel skin injury, intraoral injury, or musculoskeletal injury without a plausible explanation, is concerning for physical abuse. A precruising infant with a sentinel injury should be medically evaluated for occult injury and predisposing medical conditions, as well as reported to authorities for further investigation. Early identification of sentinel injuries and appropriate interventions can prevent further abuse.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Hillary W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Petska
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: lsheets@chw.org.
authors.forename: Lynn K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sheets
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Abusive head trauma; Bruising; Child abuse; Infants; Precruising; Prevention; Sentinel injury