Citation

Abraham M, Kondis J, Merritt DF. J. Pediatr. Adolesc. Gynecol. 2015; 29(3): e49-52.

Affiliation

Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpag.2015.12.009

PMID

26746636

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vaginal rupture following sexual assault is a rare but life-threatening occurrence requiring prompt recognition and treatment. Here, we describe four such cases in children. Our purposes are to increase clinicians' awareness of the physical trauma that a sexual abuse victim can suffer from and increase recognition that these victims require immediate trauma services. CASES: Each patient had obvious hymenal and vaginal lacerations with a vaginal apical rupture injury and secondary acute blood loss. None of the four victims sustained infectious sequelae. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Providers should have a low threshold for managing sexual abuse victims as trauma cases when they have obvious hymenal and vaginal lacerations and genital bleeding, proceeding expeditiously to examination under general anesthesia when appropriate.

Language: en