AJR. American journal of roentgenology
-
AJR Am J Roentgenol · Mar 2013
Meta AnalysisYield of radiographic skeletal surveys for detection of hand, foot, and spine fractures in suspected child abuse.
Previous studies have found that fractures involving the spine, hands, and feet are rare on skeletal surveys in cases of suspected child abuse, leading some authors to suggest eliminating these regions from the initial skeletal survey protocol. We assessed this recommendation by performing a historical review of these injuries in a pediatric population undergoing film screen-based radiographic skeletal surveys for suspected child abuse. ⋯ These data, acquired during the film-screen era, suggest that fractures of the spine, hands, and feet may not be rare in infants and toddlers in cases of suspected child abuse. The benefits of eliminating views of these regions from the initial skeletal survey should be carefully weighed against the cost of missing these potentially important injuries in at-risk pediatric populations.