Post-mortem skeletal surveys in suspected non-accidental injury.
Clin Radiol
; 67(9): 868-76, 2012 Sep.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22578848
AIM: To evaluate potential differences between live (LSS) and post-mortem skeletal surveys (PMSS) in cases of non-accidental injury (NAI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All skeletal surveys (SS) performed for suspected NAI over a 5 year period were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic details, injuries obtained, artefacts, and radiographic difficulties encountered during LSS and PMSS were recorded. RESULTS: Of 195 surveys performed, there were significantly fewer positive PMSS (11/128; 8.6%) than LSS (16/67; 23.8%), but no difference between the actual injuries encountered. Of those who had a positive SS, dead children were significantly younger (mean age 2.6 ± 3.4 months old) than live children (7.8 ± 6.9 months old; p < 0.05). Thirty-six percent of all contemporary digital radiographs contained artefacts, particularly in PMSS (599/1504; 39.8%) compared to LSS (269/904: 29.7%; p < 0.001), which were mostly patient identification labels (55.1 versus 21.6%; p < 0.001). PMSS demonstrated death-related radiographic complications in 10.6% of cases. CONCLUSION: Radiographic imaging in deceased children is not easy, and yields significant artefacts, which may hamper image interpretation. A technique for obtaining multiple views of a limb in fixed flexion deformity to maximize the diagnostic potential is described. Careful consideration of these factors would maximize the diagnostic yield in this unique patient population.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Traumatismo Múltiple
/
Intensificación de Imagen Radiográfica
/
Maltrato a los Niños
/
Fracturas Óseas
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Newborn
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Radiol
Año:
2012
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido