Imaging of child abuse

Elder Mistreatment: Emergency Department Recognition and Management

Elder mistreatment is experienced by 5% to 15% of community-dwelling older adults each year. An emergency department (ED) encounter offers an important opportunity to identify elder mistreatment and initiate intervention. Strategies to improve detection of elder mistreatment include identifying high-risk patients; recognizing suggestive findings from the history, physical examination, imaging, and laboratory tests; and/or using screening tools. ED management of elder mistreatment includes addressing acute issues, maximizing the patient's safety, and reporting to the authorities when appropriate.

Addressing intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: how radiologists can make a difference

Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries both in Europe and across the world implemented strict stay-at-home orders. These measures helped to slow the spread of the coronavirus but also led to increased mental and physical health issues for the domestically confined population, including an increase in the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in many countries. IPV is defined as behavior that inflicts physical, psychological, or sexual harm within an intimate relationship. We believe that as radiologists, we can make a difference by being cognizant of this condition, raising an alert when appropriate and treating suspected victims with care and empathy. The aim of this Special Report is to raise awareness of IPV among radiologists and to suggest strategies by which to identify and support IPV victims. KEY POINTS: • The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in the number of intimate partner violence (IPV) cases, potentially leading to increased emergency department visits and radiological examinations. • Most IPV-related fractures affect the face, fingers, and upper trunk, and may easily be misinterpreted as routine trauma. • Radiologists should carefully review the medical history of suspicious cases, discuss the suspicion with the referring physician, and proactively engage in a private conversation with the patient, pointing to actionable resources for IPV victims.

Intimate partner violence crisis in the COVID-19 pandemic: how can radiologists make a difference?

• The COVID-19 crisis resulted in a variety of physical and mental health issues beyond the viral infection itself, as indicated by an increase in domestic violence.

• Radiologists should be aware of typical intimate partner violence (IPV) injury patterns, actively ask potential IPV victims about the cause of injury, and be familiar with support systems for IPV victims of their institutions.

• Emergency and radiology departments should review their protocols for identifying and supporting IPV victims, and train their staff to work together to implement these measures during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

Identifying and Initiating Intervention for Elder Abuse and Neglect in the Emergency Department

Elder abuse and neglect are common and may have serious medical and social consequences but are infrequently identified. An emergency department (ED) visit represents a unique but usually missed opportunity to identify potential abuse and initiate intervention. ED assessment should include observation of patient-caregiver interaction, comprehensive medical history, and head-to-toe physical examination. Formal screening protocols may also be useful. ED providers concerned about elder abuse or neglect should document their findings in detail. ED interventions for suspected or confirmed elder abuse or neglect include treatment of acute medical, traumatic, and psychological issues; ensuring patient safety; and reporting to the authorities.

Acute Subdural Hematoma in Infants with Abusive Head Trauma: A Literature Review

The number of cases with child abuse is increasing in Japan, and abusive head trauma (AHT) is a major cause of death in abused children. Child abuse has been recognized by the late 19th century, and widely accepted as battered child syndrome in the middle of the 20th century. As terms, there had been considerable mechanistic controversies between shaken-baby and -impact syndrome until the beginning of the 21st century. In recent years, AHT has been utilized as a less mechanistic term. Most of the characteristics of AHT in Japan have been similar to those in the United States as follows: infant is the most common victim, acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is the most common intracranial lesion, and retinal hemorrhage is often complicated. On the other hand, several characteristics have been different as follows: mother is the most common perpetrators, impact is a more common mechanism of trauma than shaking, and external trauma is more common reflecting the existence of impact. Since AHT as well as child abuse is a social pathological phenomenon influenced by victims, perpetrators, socioeconomic circumstances, and so on, various aspects of AHT as well as child abuse can be changed with times. Actually, a recent paper suggests such changes in infants with acute SDH due to AHT. In this review article, AHT, abusive infantile acute SDH in particular, are reviewed from the aspect of neurosurgical perspectives, including its mechanisms of trauma, biomechanics, clinical features, management, and prognosis, to update the trend in Japan.

Emergency department evaluation and treatment of pediatric orthopedic injuries

Orthopedic injuries in children are unique when compared to those of adults because of the physiologic differences, especially the growth plates, stronger periosteum, and dynamic state of growth. The approach to the orthopedically injured child requires a gentle yet thorough focus with consideration of the growth plates as a primary area of weakness and growth when the child sustains an injury. Understanding the developmental stages of bones is paramount to being able to manage any injuries. Finally, what appears to be a benign injury may portend more serious issues, because nonaccidental trauma must always be considered in the evaluation of the injured child.

Intracranial sewing needle in a man with seizure: a case of child abuse?

Physical abuse in infancy can cause persistent neurological deficits. Although intracranial foreign bodies are generally secondary to penetrating trauma or surgical procedures, rarely they also occur as a result of child abuse. A 32-year-old man presented with the complaint of generalized tonic clonic seizures to the Neurology Department of Marmara, University Hospital. Computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a sewing needle located within the temporal lobe. The location and the position of the needle suggested that it must have been introduced in infancy through the lamdoid suture before the closure of it, as an unsuccessful deliberate homicide attempt or accidental injury.

The positive predictive value of rib fractures as an indicator of nonaccidental trauma in children

BACKGROUND

Rib fractures have a strong association with nonaccidental trauma (NAT) and severe trauma. The purposes of this study were to evaluate rib fractures in children to determine (1) the positive predictive value of a rib fracture in defining NAT and (2) the frequency of rib fractures as the only skeletal manifestation of NAT.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records and imaging of all children with rib fractures over a 6-year period. NAT was determined by the Child Advocacy and Protection team.

RESULTS

In children younger than 3 years of age, the positive predictive value (PPV) of a rib fracture as an indicator of NAT was 95%. The positive predictive value increased to 100% once historical and clinical circumstance excluded all other causes for rib fractures.

CONCLUSION

In this study, rib fracture(s) were the only skeletal manifestation of NAT in 29% of the children.

Can the initial history predict whether a child with a head injury has been abused?

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies of child abuse have used the presenting history as part of the case definition of abuse. Thus, data from these studies cannot be used to determine the diagnostic utility of historical features for identifying cases of abuse. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic utility of certain historical features for identifying cases of abusive head trauma.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied all children, aged 0 to 3 years, who had acute traumatic intracranial injury and were admitted to a tertiary care pediatric hospital from 1993 to 2000. Cases were categorized as either "definite abuse" or "not definite abuse" on the basis of radiologic, ophthalmologic, and physical examination findings, without regard to the presenting history.

RESULTS

Forty-nine (30%) of 163 children met the criteria for definite abuse. Having no history of trauma had a high specificity (0.97) and positive predictive value (PPV; 0.92) for abuse. Among the subgroup of patients with persistent neurologic abnormality at hospital discharge (n = 34), having a history of no or low-impact trauma had a specificity of 1.0 and a PPV of 1.0 for definite abuse. Injuries were blamed on home resuscitative efforts in 12% of definite abuse cases and 0% of not definite abuse cases. The initial history of trauma was changed in 9% of definite abuse cases, as compared with 0% of not definite abuse cases.

CONCLUSION

Among young children with a head injury, certain historical features have high specificity and PPV for diagnosing child abuse.

Sífilis congênita simulando a síndrome da criança espancada: relato de caso

As autoras descrevem os achados radiológicos dos ossos longos de um recém-nascido com diagnóstico confirmado de sífilis congênita, enfatizando o diagnóstico diferencial com a síndrome da criança espancada. É apresentada a evolução radiológica das lesões nos ossos longos, do nascimento até o quarto mês de vida. Os dados clínicos e laboratoriais do recém-nascido, as radiografias anteriores e os achados radiológicos característicos da doença de base foram essenciais para o diagnóstico desta doença.

Imaging of child abuse

Skeletal imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis of abuse. High-detail radiographs of the entire skeleton, at times supplemented with nuclear imaging, CT, US, and MR imaging, elucidate the variety of findings with this entity. The radiologist's role includes careful analysis of clinical history, familiarity with typical osseous findings in abuse, and awareness of potential normal variants and pitfalls. An accurate diagnosis of abuse can then lead to appropriate measures to protect all family members at risk of serious injury.

Emergency department evaluation and treatment of pediatric orthopedic injuries

Orthopedic injuries in children are unique in terms of the mechanisms of injury, pathophysiology, and healing. This article reviews the pediatric fracture patterns and common pediatric injuries or complaints seen in the emergency department, with an emphasis on management in the emergency department. Additionally, the approach to pediatric cervical spine injuries and child abuse will be described as it pertains to the emergency physician.

Emergency department evaluation of child abuse

Child abuse has been documented in various forms since the beginning of recorded history. This article reviews the legal aspects of reporting child abuse, the epidemiology of child abuse, various physical manifestations of child abuse, and effective treatment procedures. It is only with the appropriate interventions that physicians can begin to make an impact on the future of abused children.

The role of cranial MRI in identifying patients suffering from child abuse and presenting with unexplained neurological findings

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of cerebral MRI to detect possible child abuse in children with unexplained neurologic findings.

METHOD

Between 1990 and 1997, 208 children were referred for suspected physical child abuse to the Child Protection Clinic of Ste-Justine Hospital, a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Among them, 39 children presented initially with neurological findings. For 27 of them, the CT Scan results prompted the diagnosis of child abuse. However, in 12 children, even if a CT-Scan was performed, the diagnosis and/or the mechanisms of the neurologic distress remained obscure. Investigation was completed with MRI study in those 12 cases.

RESULTS

MRI findings were diagnostic for physical abuse in eight cases. A diagnosis of child abuse was made in two more cases by a combination of MRI and skeletal survey findings. In one case, MRI was suggestive but the diagnosis of child abuse could not be confirmed. One case was misinterpreted as normal.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI is the test of choice to rule out child abuse when faced with a child presenting unexplained neurologic signs lasting for few days. The fact that MRI can better differentiate collections of different ages makes this imaging test particularly useful in identifying cases of child abuse. These results, however, always have to be integrated in a well conducted multidisciplinary clinical approach.