Citation

Servaes S, Brown SD, Choudhary AK, Christian CW, Done SL, Hayes LL, Levine MA, Moreno JA, Palusci VJ, Shore RM, Slovis TL. Pediatr. Radiol. 2016; 46(5): 591-600.

Affiliation

Department of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00247-016-3546-6

PMID

26886911

Abstract

This paper addresses significant misconceptions regarding the etiology of fractures in infants and young children in cases of suspected child abuse. This consensus statement, supported by the Child Abuse Committee and endorsed by the Board of Directors of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, synthesizes the relevant scientific data distinguishing clinical, radiologic and laboratory findings of metabolic disease from findings in abusive injury. This paper discusses medically established epidemiology and etiologies of childhood fractures in infants and young children. The authors also review the body of evidence on the role of vitamin D in bone health and the relationship between vitamin D and fractures. Finally, the authors discuss how courts should properly assess, use, and limit medical evidence and medical opinion testimony in criminal and civil child abuse cases to accomplish optimal care and protection of the children in these cases.

Language: en