ACR – Pediatric – Suspected Physical Abuse

Imaging Recommendation

Clinical:

History – This 2 year old child was brought to ER for lethargy and failure to thrive.

Symptoms – None

Physical – The child was undernourished and looked unwell.  The child was lethargic and irritable. There were multiple painful bones and joints, especially the knees.  There were multiple bruises and abrasions, including bruises on the face. The back of the head was swollen and tender.

DDx:

Suspected non-accidental trauma

Imaging Recommendation

ACR – Pediatric – Suspected Physical Abuse, Variant 3

Skeletal survey (x-rays)

CT Head

Imaging Assessment

X-Rays

Findings:

Limited x-rays were initially performed.  There were classical, metaphyseal, bucket handle type fractures.  This was also seen involving the distal tibia.

Interpretation:

High suspicion for non-accidental trauma.  Full skeletal survey recommended.

Computed Tomography

Findings:

There was generalized cerebral edema.  A small subdural hematoma was seen in the right frontal region. Occipital bone fractures were present.

Interpretation:

Probable shaken child syndrome.  Non-accidental trauma.

Diagnosis:

Non-accidental trauma

Discussion:

Physically abused children may present with neurological injuries, hollow viscus and solid-organ injuries, superficial and deep soft-tissue injuries, thermal injuries, and/or fractures. Fractures highly suggestive of physical abuse include rib fractures, classic metaphyseal lesions, those unsuspected or inconsistent with the history or age of the child, multiple fractures involving more than one skeletal area, and fractures of differing ages.

In some children, physical examination and history may clearly indicate that physical abuse has occurred. In other children, however, the diagnosis of abuse is not so straight forward and requires clinical, laboratory, imaging, pathological, and forensic evaluation and usually relies on the findings of a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, social workers, and legal authorities.

Imaging often plays a major role in the detection and documentation of physical injury. The type and extent of imaging performed in a child who is a suspected victim of abuse depends on the child’s age, signs, symptoms, and other social considerations, such as being the twin or sibling of a physically abused infant. Making the diagnosis of child abuse requires differentiation from anatomical and developmental variants and possible underlying metabolic and genetic conditions.

Recommended Imaging:

Skeletal survey:

The radiographic skeletal survey is the primary imaging examination for detecting fractures. The skeletal survey should be composed of frontal and lateral views of the skull, lateral views of the cervical spine and thoraco-lumbo-sacral spine, and single frontal views of the long bones, hands, feet, chest, and abdomen. Oblique views of the ribs should be obtained to increase the accuracy of diagnosing rib fractures, which are strong positive predictors and may be the only skeletal manifestation of abuse.

The images should be obtained using high-detail imaging systems and coned to the specific area of interest for each of the body parts, with separate views of each arm, forearm, thigh, leg, hand, and foot to improve image quality and diagnostic accuracy.

Fractures most often involve the long bones and ribs, with lesser involvement of the skull and clavicles and even less frequent involvement of the pelvis, spine, hands, and feet. It has therefore been questioned whether the radiation exposure outweighs the potential benefit of imaging the pelvis, spine, hands, and feet on initial skeletal survey.

CT Head without contrast:

Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) of the head is the examination of choice to evaluate children with suspected abusive head trauma (AHT). These include children who had skeletal survey for suspected child abuse, children with neurological changes, and children with facial injuries raising concern for abuse. Multi-planar reformations and 3-D volume rendering of the skull increase sensitivity for fracture and intracranial hemorrhage.

Clinical:

History – Injured her knee ski-doing.

Symptoms – Painful knee.

Physical – The patient was limping and reluctantly put weight on the leg.  Minimal knee swelling was seen and there was some minimal bruising present.

DDx:

Contusion

Femur fracture

Tibial fracture

Imaging Recommendation

X-rays

Imaging Assessment

Findings: The femoral growth plate was widened.  There was a metaphyseal fracture that exited laterally. Minimal swelling was noted.

Interpretation:

Salter-Harris type 2 fracture of the distal femur.

Diagnosis:

Salter-Harris, type 2, fracture

Discussion:

• The epiphyseal plate (physis or growth plate) is the weakest part of the bone and is prone to shearing injuries.
• The Salter-Harris classification is a means of categorizing epiphyseal plate fractures and provides clues to their prognosis.
• All such fractures, by definition, involve or extend through the epiphyseal plate and therefore all such fractures occur in children before the epiphyseal plate fuses.

Salter-Harris, type II fracture:

• Most common Salter-Harris fracture—85%.
• Involves both the epiphyseal plate and the metaphysis.
• A corner of metaphysis that is usually fractured produces the “corner sign”.
• Rarely produces complications.

Salter-Harris Classification of Growth Plate Injuries (Description, Frequency, and Prognosis):

Type	Description	Image
I	The fracture plane extends completely through the growth plate.  This type of fracture can be minimally displaced, making detection challenging.  Repeated x-rays in 7 days will demonstrate periosteal new bone if a subtle fracture is suspected. 5 – 7% frequency. Good prognosis.
II	The fracture plane leaves a small, triangular or quadrangular portion of the metaphysis in contact with the growth plate.  This is the most common type of Salter-Harris injury. 75% frequency. Good prognosis.
III	A quadrangular fragment of the epiphysis is isolated from the adjacent bone. 7 – 10% frequency. Poorer prognosis.
IV	A triangular fragment of epiphysis, growth plate, and metaphysis is separated from the adjacent bone. 10% frequency. Poorer prognosis.
V	This injury is focal and results in delayed abnormal bone growth in a focal region of the bone due to crushing type of damage to the growing bone. 1% frequency. Worst prognosis.

Table 15.1 Description, frequency, and prognosis of Salter-Harris Classification of Growth Plate Injuries by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Attributions

Figure 15.1A X-ray of pediatric fractures associated with non-accidental trauma by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Figure 15.1B X-ray of pediatric fracture associated with non-accidental trauma by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Figure 15.2A CT scan of the head and brain revealing brain infarction and edema by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Figure 15.2B 3D rendering of the skull demonstrating skull fractures in a child by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Figure 15.3A X-ray of the pediatric knee revealing a distal femoral fracture by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Figure 15.3B Lateral x-ray of the knee associated with a femoral fracture by Dr. Brent Burbridge MD, FRCPC, University Medical Imaging Consultants, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan is used under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.