PEDIATRICS Vol. 73 No. 2 February 1984, pp. 166-168
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Jaudes, P. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Jaudes, P. K.

Comparison of Radiography and Radionuclide Bone Scanning in the Detection of Child Abuse

Paula Kienberger Jaudes MD1

1 From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, and La Rabida Children's Hospital and Research Center, Chicago

The battered child syndrome consists of a constellation of signs that may be either apparent or covert. Radiographic documentation of unexplained or difficult-to-detect fractures is an important means of establishing a basis for legal intervention in child abuse. One hundred ten children were evaluated with either radiographic surveys or bone scans, and 50 children had both roentgenograms and bone scans. In 40% of the children there was at least one fracture whereas 20% had between two and seven fractures. Among the children who received both skeletal surveys and bone scans, 41 fractures were detected: skeletal survey detected 52% and bone scan detected 88% of those fractures. Children with fractures were more likely to be placed in foster homes than to be returned to the original environment. The presence of single v multiple fractures did not alter the probability of foster placement. It was concluded that fracture documentation is important in determining whether to place abused children in foster homes. Both skeletal surveys and radionuclide bone scanning had high false-negative values. When either test is initially negative and blatant signs of physical abuse are present, both tests should be performed to ensure the greatest probability of fracture detection.

Key Words: radiography • radionuclide bone scanning • child abuse • battered child syndrome

Submitted on February 26, 1983
Accepted on May 4, 1983




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
S A Mandelstam, D Cook, M Fitzgerald, M R Ditchfield, and H Carty
Complementary use of radiological skeletal survey and bone scintigraphy in detection of bony injuries in suspected child abuse * COMMENTARY
Arch. Dis. Child., May 1, 2003; 88(5): 387 - 390.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
A M Kemp
Investigating subdural haemorrhage in infants
Arch. Dis. Child., February 1, 2002; 86(2): 98 - 102.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]