Forensic Aspects of Paediatric Fractures. Differentiating Accidental Trauma from Child Abuse

1. Child Abuse, Non-Accidental Trauma, and Inflicted Injuries
2. General Aspects of Fractures in Children
3. Radiology in Suspected Child Abuse
4. Fracture Dating
5. Head
6. Spine
7. Ribs
8. Clavicle
9. Sternum
10. Scapula
11. Pelvis
12. Extremities
13. Accidental Trauma
14. Normal Variants, Congenital, and Acquired Disorders
15. The Role of the Expert Witness and the Abuse of Differential Diagnoses in Court
16. The Use and Misuse of the Medical Literature
17. Bayesian Interpretation of Paediatric Fractures

Fractures are a common finding in children and it is estimated that 2.1% of all children will suffer at least one fracture before the age of 16. With young children in particular, the question may arise if this is related to child abuse. The aim of this book is to help physicians involved in child abuse cases to interpret radiological findings in light of the forensic circumstances under which they occurred. The authors present up-to-date literature related to the mechanisms underlying non-accidental cases of trauma. In this book not only the radiological findings in child-abuse are discussed, but more importantly, these findings are analyzed from a forensic perspective. Careful attention is paid to evidence regarding reported trauma mechanisms and their clinical outcome; for example, can a fall from a couch result in a femoral fracture, and if not, where is the supporting evidence?