About the review
The following is a summary of the systematic review findings up to the date of our most recent literature search.
The systematic review evaluates the scientific literature on fractures published up until February 2017.
It aims to answer the following clinical questions:
- Which fractures are indicative of abuse?
- What is the evidence for radiological dating of fractures in children?
- What radiological investigations should be performed to identify fractures in suspected child abuse?
- Does cardiopulmonary resuscitation cause rib fractures in children?
Fractures are a common manifestation of abuse and are essential to identify if present. This review evaluates the scientific literature on abusive and non-abusive fractures and examines their features based both on their location and age-group.
Note: Implications for practice are no longer part of the Child Protection Evidence reviews. For Good Practice Recommendations please see the Child Protection Companion on PCO UK.
Key findings
- Abusive fractures are more common in children less than 18 months of age than in those older than 18 months.
- Multiple fractures are more suspicious of abuse than non-abuse.
- Rib fractures in the absence of major trauma, birth injury or underlying bone disease have a high predictive value for abuse.
- Multiple rib fractures are more commonly abusive than non-abusive.
- Abusive femoral fractures are more likely to arise in children who are not yet walking.
- Mid-shaft fractures are the most common femoral fractures in abuse and non-abuse (analysed for all age groups).
- The dating of fractures is an inexact science, the radiological features of bone healing represent a continuum, with considerable overlap in timescale.
- The accuracy of radiological estimates of the time of injury are in terms of weeks rather than days.
- Radiological investigations of suspected physical abuse include initial and follow up skeletal surveys with specific views to maximise detection of occult injuries particularly in young children.
- Either skeletal survey (SS) or radionuclide imaging (RNI) alone will miss occult fractures.
- Studies suggest that up to 12% of contacts under two years of age, of children who have been abused with serious injuries may have a positive skeletal survey with twins being a particularly high risk.
Disclaimer: This is a summary of the systematic review findings up to the date of our most recent literature search. If you have a specific clinical case, we strongly recommend you read all of the relevant references as cited and look for additional material published outside our search dates
Original reviews and content © Cardiff University, funded by NSPCC
Published by RCPCH April 2018
While the format of each review has been revised to fit the style of the College and amalgamated into a comprehensive document, the content remains unchanged until reviewed and new evidence is identified and added to the evidence-base. Updated content will be indicated on individual review pages.