Citation

Petska HW, Frasier LD, Livingston N, Moles R, Sheets LK. Pediatr. Emerg. Care 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PEC.0000000000001717

PMID

30624423

Abstract

Bruising is the most common presentation of child physical abuse. Many patterns of abusive bruising result in positive or negative imprints of the implement used (eg, fingertips in "grab mark" contusions or hand in slap injury). However, bruising may also form along the lines of greatest anatomical stress (eg, gluteal cleft or pinna bruising). Bruising due to abusive squeezing also forms along lines of greatest anatomical stress, resulting in a negative imprint of the flexural folds of the hand. Four cases of children with this unique pattern of bruising due to abusive squeezing are presented. Recognition of these bruises as inflicted represents an opportunity for early identification and intervention in cases of child physical abuse.

Language: en