Imaging Findings in Physical Child Abuse

Abstract

Purpose: This study was performed to demonstrate the imaging findings associated with the infliction of physical injuries in children.

Materials and methods: This study involved children who had been diagnosed with physical abuse in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015. These children’s radiologic images were obtained from the hospital’s Picture Archiving and Communication System and retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Twenty-five physically abused children ranging in age from 0 days to 10 years were identified. Thirteen children were boys and 12 were girls. Nineteen (76.0%) children were ≤2 years of age. The most common radiologic abnormality in our patient series was head injury, which was found in 12 (48.0%) of the 25 physically abused children. The most common feature of inflicted head injury was a subdural hematoma, which was found in eight children. Skull fractures were found in three children. Fractures of the long bones and ribs were found in six children.

Conclusion: Head injury, including skull fractures, was the most common radiologic abnormality in our study. Long bone fractures were the most common skeletal fractures, followed by skull and rib fractures. A thorough radiologic skeletal survey plays a very important role in the diagnosis of inflicted injuries in children.