Date of Presentation

5-2-2024 12:00 AM

College

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Poster Abstract

Child physical abuse is a significant cause of injury in infants and young children and can present in a variety of ways. Failure to recognize abuse in infants and young children can be life-threatening and is often recurrent until safety interventions occur. Consequently, it is of paramount importance that providers strongly consider child physical abuse on the differential, along with metabolic bone disease and accidental traumatic injury, when evaluating fractures in young children and infants. This case report will focus on the evaluation of a 3-month-old male infant who was admitted to the hospital with irritability and decreased right arm movement. Multiple unexplained bone fractures were found on skeletal survey, which led to concerns for suspected child abuse and the infant underwent a comprehensive medical evaluation by child abuse pediatricians. Ultimately, it was ruled that the infant’s numerous injuries were most consistent with a medical diagnosis of child physical abuse.

Keywords

fracture, bone fractures, child abuse, non-accidental trauma, skeletal survey, diagnosis, infant

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence | Emergency Medicine | Health and Medical Administration | Medicine and Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Musculoskeletal System | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Patient Safety | Pediatrics

Document Type

Poster

DOI

10.31986/issn.2689-0690_rdw.stratford_research_day.107_2024

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May 2nd, 12:00 AM

Evaluation of Unexplained Bone Fractures in a 3-Month-Old Infant – A Case Report

Child physical abuse is a significant cause of injury in infants and young children and can present in a variety of ways. Failure to recognize abuse in infants and young children can be life-threatening and is often recurrent until safety interventions occur. Consequently, it is of paramount importance that providers strongly consider child physical abuse on the differential, along with metabolic bone disease and accidental traumatic injury, when evaluating fractures in young children and infants. This case report will focus on the evaluation of a 3-month-old male infant who was admitted to the hospital with irritability and decreased right arm movement. Multiple unexplained bone fractures were found on skeletal survey, which led to concerns for suspected child abuse and the infant underwent a comprehensive medical evaluation by child abuse pediatricians. Ultimately, it was ruled that the infant’s numerous injuries were most consistent with a medical diagnosis of child physical abuse.

 

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