Warner Christopher,  Maguire Sabine,  Miller Angie,  Trefan Laszlo,  Fadell Michael

Final Pr. ID: Poster #: SCI-057

Fractures are a common manifestation of physical child abuse, and when present can have considerable bearing on the legal process. Although the timing of skeletal injury and healing is of great importance in forensic cases, the dating of fractures in the age group in which fractures from physical abuse most frequently occur is largely based on the radiologist’s personal experience as opposed to primary research. A full understanding of the radiological features of healing in infant fractures will enhance the assessment of fracture dating in cases where the time of injury is unknown, such as suspected abuse. The objective of this study was to describe the timing of fracture healing in infants using previously defined radiographic signs of fracture healing. Read More

Authors:  Warner Christopher , Maguire Sabine , Miller Angie , Trefan Laszlo , Fadell Michael

Keywords:  Healing Fracture, Fracture Healing, Non Accidental Trauma, Abuse, Long Bone

Messer Diana,  Adler Brent,  Ruess Lynne,  Brink Farah,  Xiang Henry,  Agnew Amanda

Final Pr. ID: Paper #: 055

Healing fractures are a common radiographic finding in cases of child physical abuse. Accurate time since injury estimation of healing fractures may provide an opportunity for identification and characterization of physical abuse, especially in young children unable to verbalize. This study examines patterns of long bone fracture healing in a modern sample of young children. Read More

Authors:  Messer Diana , Adler Brent , Ruess Lynne , Brink Farah , Xiang Henry , Agnew Amanda

Keywords:  Child Abuse, Fracture Healing, Radiography

Messer Diana,  Adler Brent H.,  Brink Farah,  Xiang Henry,  Agnew Amanda

Final Pr. ID: Poster #: SCI-038

Skeletal fractures may go undetected and untreated in physically abused children for significant periods of time. When discovered later through radiographic survey, the time since injury (TSI) may be important for the medical diagnosis of physical abuse and have implications for child protection. Prior research suggests that clinical and biological variables, such as fracture location and age, may influence pediatric fracture healing. However, radiographic determination of TSI has been poorly studied until recently. It has been commonly understood that in general younger patients heal faster and lower extremity fractures heal slower than upper extremity fractures. However, the influence of patient age and fracture location on fracture healing has only been explored on a limited scale and not between pediatric age groups. This study examines the effect of age on specific features of pediatric fracture healing through radiographic analysis. Read More

Authors:  Messer Diana , Adler Brent H. , Brink Farah , Xiang Henry , Agnew Amanda

Keywords:  Fracture, Healing, Abuse