This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kenney, I J Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kenney, I J

Doubt, difficulties and practicalities in the diagnosis of non-accidental injury—a personal view

X-ray Department, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 3JN, UK

• Non-accidental injury (NAI) should be considered when children present with unexplained injuries.
  
• Multiple unexplained rib fractures, classic metaphyseal lesions and complex skull fractures (without a history of severe trauma) have a high specificity for abuse.
  
• Single long bone and skull fractures occur commonly in the non-accidentally injured child.
  
• Scintigraphy may be helpful in confirming the presence of significant abnormality when the initial radiographic abnormality is subtle.
  
• Abdominal injuries are easily overlooked in children presenting with skeletal or soft tissue manifestations of NAI.
  
• The differential diagnosis of abnormalities thought to be due to NAI should be considered carefully before reaching a conclusion that an injury has occurred non-accidentally.
  
• The skeletal survey should be performed by radiographers experienced in the examination of children in order to provide images of the highest quality.
  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Answers to multiple-choice questionnaire: Paediatric radiology [from Imaging 13(4)] Imaging, December 31, 2001; 13(6): 478 - 482. [Full Text] [PDF]