Unrecognized Trauma in Infants and Children

A group of cases of traumatically induced bone lesions is presented. In none of these patients was there any history of trauma obtainable at the time of admission. Subsequent studies were felt to confirm the fact that these cases were all due to trauma. This subject was reviewed and the following points are felt to be particularly significant. The diagnosis of traumatic injury to young bones should be made with a relative degree of certainty on the initial roentgenographic examination and confirmed by survey films of the long bones. The recognition of trauma induced by adults or older siblings will save considerable time and effort in an attempt to arrive at a diagnosis. The early recognition of the condition may be lifesaving, for removal of the child, if at all possible, from the environment in which these injuries occur should result in complete cure. Close cooperation with enlightened juvenile authorities can be invaluable.