Citation

Furter M, Germerott T, Thali MJ. Pediatrics 2011; 128(4): e1008-12.

Affiliation

University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. matthias.furter@kispi.uzh.ch.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Academy of Pediatrics)

DOI

10.1542/peds.2010-1177

PMID

21930543

Abstract

We present here the case of an adolescent female near-drowning victim who was reportedly discovered submerged and unconscious by family members in a whirlpool spa. Physical examination revealed extensive posterior soft tissue bruising, which raised the suspicion of nonaccidental trauma. Detailed forensic evaluation of the injuries and the scene proved that the soft tissue findings represented an unusual manifestation of whirlpool-spa suction-vent injury. Medical evaluation indicated that epilepsy onset might have contributed to the near-drowning, although forensic evaluation of this possibility was less convincing. In this article we review these rare but important injuries, which have the potential to be confused with child abuse, and detail the atypical presentation and clinically presumed etiologic event in our case.

Language: en