Physical Abuse Recognition

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Introduction & Red Flags - Spotting Trouble

  • Physical Abuse: Non-accidental (inflicted) injury to a child.
  • Key Principle: Injury clashes with developmental stage or given history.
  • History Red Flags:
    • Vague, changing, or absent history.
    • Delay in seeking medical care.
    • Blaming siblings/self (if young).
    • History of "doctor shopping".
  • Caregiver Behavior Red Flags:
    • Inappropriate concern (over/under-reactive).
    • Hostile, evasive, or uncooperative.
    • Focus on unrelated issues.
  • Child Behavior Red Flags:
    • Excessive fear of caregiver/adults.
    • Apprehension when other children cry.
    • Extreme withdrawal or indiscriminate friendliness.

⭐ Multiple injuries in different stages of healing is highly suggestive of physical abuse.

Cutaneous Manifestations - Skin Deep Signs

  • Bruises (Most Common):
    • Patterned: Belt, loop, handprints, ligature marks.
    • 📌 TEN-4 FACES-P mnemonic for suspicious bruising:
      • Torso, Ears, Neck in children < 4 years.
      • Frenulum, Auricle, Cheek, Eyelids, Sclera in any child.
      • Patterned bruising.
    • Multiple bruises in different stages of healing.
    • Bruises in non-ambulatory infants.

    ⭐ Sentinel injuries (e.g., a bruise in an infant < 4 months on Torso, Ears, or Neck) often precede severe abuse and require high suspicion. TEN-4-FACESp Bruising Rule

  • Burns:
    • Scald burns:
      • Immersion: Sharp demarcation ("glove/stocking"), sparing of flexed areas (doughnut sign on buttocks).
    • Contact burns:
      • Cigarette: Circular, punched-out, ~1 cm, uniform depth. Often multiple.
      • Dry burns: Patterned (e.g., iron, hot plate).
  • Bites:
    • Human bite: Intercanine distance > 2.5-3 cm (adult). Ovoid, may show individual tooth marks.
  • Lacerations/Abrasions:
    • Mouth (torn frenulum), lips. Ligature marks (neck, wrists, ankles).

Skeletal & Head Trauma - Bones Don't Lie

  • Skeletal Survey: Indicated <2 yrs; consider 2-5 yrs if suspicious.

  • High Specificity Fractures (HSF):

    • Metaphyseal lesions (CML): "corner" or "bucket-handle" fractures.
    • Rib fractures: esp. posterior (squeezing), multiple.
    • Scapular, sternal, spinous process fractures.
    • Multiple fractures, various healing stages (differential: Osteogenesis Imperfecta).
  • Other Suspicious Fractures:

    • Long bone (femur, humerus) in non-ambulatory infants (<1 yr).
    • Skull fractures: complex, depressed, growing, occipital, bilateral.
  • Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) / Shaken Baby Syndrome:

    • Subdural Hematoma (SDH): most common intracranial injury.
    • Retinal Hemorrhages (RH): bilateral, extensive, all layers, "too numerous to count".
    • Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; cerebral edema.
    • Often NO external signs of injury (~50%).
    • Symptoms: apnea, seizures, irritability, lethargy, poor feeding.

⭐ Retinal hemorrhages are present in 75-80% of AHT cases and are a strong indicator of abusive head trauma when extensive and bilateral.

Differentials & Management - Ruling Out & Responding

  • Key Differentials to Rule Out:

    • Accidental injuries (check history consistency)
    • Bleeding disorders (e.g., Hemophilia, ITP)
    • Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)
    • Mongolian spots (vs. bruises)
    • Cultural practices (e.g., coining, cupping - common in India)
    • Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., Rickets)
  • Management Steps:

    • Prioritize child safety; hospitalize if needed.
    • Thorough documentation (detailed notes, photographs).
    • Report to Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Police (under POCSO Act).
    • Involve a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

⭐ Skeletal survey is mandatory in suspected physical abuse for children < 2 years to identify occult fractures.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Specific fractures: Metaphyseal (bucket-handle), posterior ribs, multiple fractures in varied healing stages.
  • Bruising red flags: Any bruise in non-mobile infant, TEN-4 FACES-P areas, patterned marks.
  • Characteristic burns: Immersion (stocking-glove, central sparing), cigarette burns (circular, uniform depth).
  • Abusive Head Trauma: Subdural hematoma, bilateral retinal hemorrhages are highly indicative.
  • Internal injuries: Unexplained duodenal hematoma, liver/spleen lacerations, or pancreatic injury.
  • History mismatch: Inconsistent history with injury, or significant delay in seeking care.

Practice Questions: Physical Abuse Recognition

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Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of sexual abuse:

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Flashcards: Physical Abuse Recognition

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A child who has been physically abused should undergo a _____ at first.

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A child who has been physically abused should undergo a _____ at first.

thorough physical examination

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