Child abuse: review of the literature

Non-accidental injuries in children are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Fractures are the second most common clinical manifestation of child abuse. The fracture of the femur is associated in more than 60% of child abuse in children younger than 3 years. The objective was to review the literature on child abuse in the major databases and report a rare case of bilateral subtrochanteric femur fractures associated with unilaterall humeral fracture in a 28-day newborn. The orthopedic surgeon is often the first physician to evaluate these children, so a high degree of suspicion, and a physical examination and a detailed clinical history is mandatory when evaluating a newborn with musculoskeletal injuries.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Terra,Bernardo Barcellos, Figueiredo,Eduardo Antônio de, Terra,Morena Pretti Espindula de Oliveira Lima, Andreoli,Carlos Vicente, Ejnisman,Benno
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia 2013
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-36162013000100011
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Description
Summary:Non-accidental injuries in children are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Fractures are the second most common clinical manifestation of child abuse. The fracture of the femur is associated in more than 60% of child abuse in children younger than 3 years. The objective was to review the literature on child abuse in the major databases and report a rare case of bilateral subtrochanteric femur fractures associated with unilaterall humeral fracture in a 28-day newborn. The orthopedic surgeon is often the first physician to evaluate these children, so a high degree of suspicion, and a physical examination and a detailed clinical history is mandatory when evaluating a newborn with musculoskeletal injuries.