Friends Not Foes: Optimizing Collaboration with Subspecialists.

Pediatric orthopedic patients can be complex to manage. As orthopedists plan for possible surgical interventions, consultation with pediatric subspecialists will be necessary. This article discusses the considerations an orthopedist should make when deciding on the timing and the appropriateness of consultation-both preoperatively and perioperatively. Consultation before surgical intervention will especially be useful if the subspecialist will be collaborating in the management of the condition postoperatively (whether inpatient or outpatient). Clear and early consultation in both written and verbal format will facilitate quality and expedite the patient's care.

When "the runs" also burns: Case reports of severe diaper dermatitis in children with acute gastroenteritis mimicking scald burns.

Burns to the buttocks of a child are highly concerning for child abuse unless there is a clear history to support an alternative diagnosis. We report two cases of severe erosive diaper dermatitis presenting as buttocks and perineal burns caused by prolonged exposure to diarrheal stool. These cases underscore the importance of making the right diagnosis to avoid the undue psychosocial stress to families that comes with a mistaken diagnosis of inflicted injury, and further add to our understanding of diarrheal contact burns in the absence of laxative use.

Timely recognition of retinal hemorrhage in pediatric abusive head trauma evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Distinct patterns of retinal hemorrhages (RHs) are suggestive of abusive head trauma in the context of unexplained intracranial injury. Current recommendations encourage an eye examination within 48 hours of admission due to the rapid resolution of RH. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical factors associated with a delay in funduscopic examination outside the recommended 48 hours. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was completed on all inpatient consultations by the Child Protection Team with evidence of intracranial injury on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging over 3 years at a large children's hospital. Extracted data included demographic characteristics, history of intubation, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, extraventricular drain placement, seizures, use of vasopressor support, and presence of other injuries. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the patient population, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with delayed eye examinations. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients met inclusion criteria. Of those, 39 (19.2%) had a delay in initial funduscopic examination. Multivariate analyses revealed that PICU admission, surgical intervention, and seizure activity were significant predictors of delayed examination after controlling for multiple clinical factors. Neurosurgical consultation was shown to be protective against a delayed examination. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid resolution of RH may occur in child abuse. Prompt ophthalmology examinations and neurosurgery consultation when child abuse is suspected help avoid a delay in diagnosis.

Are classic metaphyseal lesions pathognomonic for child abuse? Two cases of motor vehicle collision-related extremity CML and a review of the literature.

Long bone fractures at the infant growth plate, known as classic metaphyseal lesions (CMLs), raise a strong suspicion for abusive injury. CMLs persist as a hallmark for inflicted injury although a handful of documented cases of CMLs created by other, non-abusive mechanisms within various healthcare settings are scattered throughout the past few decades of medical literature. The forces required to sustain a CML are typically defined as a combination of tensile, compressive, or rotational energy applied to the metaphyseal regions of an infant's long bones. Recently, two separate child protection teams each encountered a case of CML discovered after reported motor vehicle collisions (MVC). This provoked a critical appraisal of the medical literature to inform clinical practice regarding MVCs as a potential mechanism for this fracture type and to remind clinicians that there is no single injury pathognomonic for abuse.