Proximal femoral physeal fractures in children: a rare abusive injury.

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral physeal fractures are rare in abused children. Recognition may be hampered due to their rarity and lack of an ossified femoral head. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to preventing coxa vara. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the radiographic features of proximal femoral physeal fractures both with unossified and ossified femoral heads. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed our Institutional Review Board-approved 21-year radiology database of 2,206 children who had a skeletal survey as part of their medical evaluation for possible abuse. Cases of proximal femoral physeal fractures were identified. RESULTS: Eight patients, ages 2.5 to 26 months, with 10 fractures were found, yielding a prevalence of 0.4% (8/2,206). In all fractures, there was lateral displacement of the proximal femur. In three fractures, the femoral head was not ossified, simulating a hip dislocation. The intra-articular location of the femoral head was verified by ultrasound or abdomen computed tomography. Subperiosteal new bone formation was present in six fractures, all non-weight-bearing patients. The femoral head was ossified in seven cases, all with medial rotation of the femoral head. Metaphyseal irregularity was present in three of four fractures of the weight-bearing patients; two of three also had metaphyseal scalloping resembling osteomyelitis. The three with metaphyseal irregularity developed coxa vara. CONCLUSION: Proximal femoral physeal fractures are rare in abuse cases. All present with lateral displacement of the proximal femur. With an unossified femoral head, it can simulate hip dislocation, which can be clarified with hip sonogram. Metaphyseal irregularity appears to be a feature in weight-bearing patients.

Healthcare needs and utilization patterns of sex-trafficked youth: Missed opportunities at a children's hospital.

BACKGROUND: Domestic minor sex-trafficked (DMST) youth experience profound medical and mental health consequences. This retrospective study reviewed healthcare utilization patterns and documented individualized risk factors of sex-trafficked youth in the 5 years prior to presenting to a healthcare setting. The primary aim of this study was to examine healthcare utilization patterns among DMST youth with the goal of determining opportunities for earlier identification within the healthcare system. METHODS: A chart review was conducted of all patients <18 years old referred for suspected or confirmed sex trafficking to a child and adolescent protection centre (CAPC) in an urban, academic children's hospital in Washington, DC from January 1, 2006 to March 1, 2017. Patients were seen by a child abuse pediatrician or a trauma-informed social worker in an inpatient, outpatient, or emergency department setting. Demographics and medical, psychiatric, and social history were abstracted from encounters within the hospital's healthcare system along with provider concern for DMST up to 5 years prior to their initial CAPC visit. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were identified with a mean age of 14.6 years (SD = 1.7). Ninety percent (n = 35/39) of patients were seen in the healthcare system within the 5 years prior to their initial CAPC visit, totaling 191 encounters. Of the visits, 57% (n = 108/191) occurred in the emergency department. The most common chief complaints for encounters were psychiatric (21%, n = 41/191). Less than half of the youth, 43%, had any documented provider concern for sex trafficking in their medical record prior to identification as DMST. CONCLUSION: Most of this cohort was previously evaluated within the healthcare system. However, there was limited provider documentation of concern for DMST despite the presence of risk factors. Provider recognition of youth at risk for DMST is crucial for providing care for youth.

Featured counter-trafficking program: The CAREs clinic, a primary care medical home for commercially exploited youth.

This invited article is one of several comprising part of a special issue of Child Abuse and Neglect focused on child trafficking and health. The purpose of each invited article is to describe a specific program serving trafficked children. Featuring these programs is intended to raise awareness of innovative counter-trafficking strategies emerging worldwide and facilitate collaboration on program development and outcomes research. This article describes a medical home model of care to serve the complex medical and mental health needs of commercially sexually exploited youth. Located in Washington D.C., US, it provides coordinated ongoing primary, mental health, and reproductive health care in a trauma-informed manner. Serving 62 youth during its first year, the medical home has begun to improve access to high-quality healthcare to a very vulnerable population.

Acute Sexual Assault in the Pediatric and Adolescent Population.

Children and adolescents are at high risk for sexual assault. Early medical and mental health evaluation by professionals with advanced training in sexual victimization is imperative to assure appropriate assessment, forensic evidence collection, and follow-up. Moreover, continued research and outreach programs are needed for the development of preventative strategies that focus on this vulnerable population. In this review we highlight key concepts for assessment and include a discussion of risk factors, disclosure, sequelae, follow-up, and prevention.

Aspects of abuse: commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and adolescents is a serious worldwide problem. It is, in essence, the sexual abuse of a minor for economic gain. In the United States, there is no uniform nationwide database to capture the incidence and prevalence of CSEC. Therefore, there is a great variation in the estimates, but the actual numbers are unknown. Given the clandestine nature of the practice, it is often underreported and underidentified. Healthcare providers will often encounter victims of commercial sexual exploitation due to mental health, physical health, and sexual health consequences, and therefore should be knowledgeable in the signs of possible sexual exploitation. The aim of this article is to educate healthcare providers on how vulnerable children may become sexually exploited, the health consequences involved with sexual exploitation, how to better identify possible victims, and the medical evaluation of a victim of sexual exploitation.

Aspects of abuse: consequences of childhood victimization.

Childhood maltreatment is unfortunately a common occurrence in the United States, affecting 1 in 8 children annually.(1) The consequences of maltreatment can be considerable, and exact a heavy toll on the individual, family, and society. Child abuse and neglect can cause permanent, heritable changes in the body׳s response to stress, which in turn inflicts profound changes in the developing brain. While these changes allow a child to contend with a neglectful, chaotic, or possibly violent environment, they strongly influence an individual׳s behavioral, educational, physical, and mental functioning and well-being throughout his/her lifetime, long after the maltreatment has ended. As the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) studies clearly demonstrate, adult survivors of maltreatment experience significant health harms that can cause significant morbidity and contribute to early death. Further, the lifetime economic cost to society of childhood maltreatment is estimated to be $124 billion dollars.(2) The study of resilient individuals who appear to suffer fewer negative consequences of their maltreatment offers insights into possible interventions for clinical practice as well as advocacy and public policy opportunities that would begin to lessen the significant burdens of childhood maltreatment.

Curiosity and critical thinking: identifying child abuse before it is too late.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed medical records to identify factors contributing to not recognizing child abuse in cases where it was subsequently identified. DESIGN/METHODS: Eighteen cases of delayed diagnosis of physical abuse were reviewed for qualitative themes. Missed abuse was defined by prior medical encounters that revealed findings concerning for physical abuse that were not recognized. RESULTS: Clinical limitations contributing to a delay in diagnosis included inattention to skin and subconjunctival findings, acceptance of inadequate explanations for injuries, no history obtained from verbal children, insufficient exploration of signs and symptoms, nonadherence to the maltreatment pathway, and incorrect diagnoses from radiologic examinations. System-based limitations included limited medical record access or completeness and admission to less-than-optimal settings. CONCLUSIONS: Having a greater index of suspicion for abuse may mitigate missed opportunities. With variability of medical training in child abuse, the factors we identified can be used as learning objectives for continuing medical education.

Occult abusive injuries in infants with apparently isolated skull fractures.

BACKGROUND: There is currently no consensus about which screening studies should be undertaken to identify abusive injuries in infants with apparently isolated skull fractures. Our objective was to determine rates of screening, rates of injury identification, and rates of reporting to child protective services among infants who underwent subspecialty evaluation for abuse after presenting with an apparently isolated skull fracture. METHODS: This was a retrospectively planned, secondary analysis of index children enrolled in a large network of children with concerns for physical abuse. For this analysis, we included infants (<12 months) who presented with signs and symptoms attributable to a skull fracture. We determined rates of skeletal survey, dedicated ophthalmologic examination and abdominal injury screening, rates of injury identification by testing and reports to child protective services. RESULTS: A total of 215 infants underwent abuse consultation for apparently isolated skull fractures. Skeletal surveys were performed in 201 subjects (93.4%) and identified additional fractures in 12 (5.6%; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-9.6%). Patient age, trauma history, and fracture type (simple/complex) were not sensitive predictors of finding additional fractures on skeletal survey. Only one additional fracture was associated with clinical signs or symptoms. Dedicated ophthalmologic examination was undertaken in 100 subjects (46.5%); one child had retinal hemorrhages. Hepatic transaminases were obtained in 135 subjects (62.7%), and 5 subjects (2.3%) had abdominal computed tomography. No abdominal injuries were identified. A total of 146 subjects (67.9%) were reported to child protective services. CONCLUSION: Infants with apparently isolated skull fractures are an important fraction of consultations for physical abuse. Additional fractures are identified in a small subset of the skeletal surveys completed in these children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological study, level IV.

Head injury depth as an indicator of causes and mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to measure differences in the causes, mechanisms, acute clinical presentations, injuries, and outcomes of children <36 months of age with varying "greatest depths" of acute cranial injury. METHODS: Children <36 months of age who were hospitalized with acute head trauma were recruited at multiple sites. Clinical and imaging data were collected, and caregivers underwent scripted interviews. Neurodevelopmental evaluations were completed 6 months after injury. Head trauma causes were categorized independently, and subject groups with varying greatest depths of injury were compared. RESULTS: Fifty-four subjects were enrolled at 9 sites. Twenty-seven subjects underwent follow-up neurodevelopmental assessments 6 months after injury. Greatest depth of visible injury was categorized as scalp, skull, or epidural for 20 subjects, subarachnoid or subdural for 13, cortical for 10, and subcortical for 11. Compared with subjects with more-superficial injuries, subjects with subcortical injuries more frequently had been abused (odds ratio [OR]: 35.6; P < .001), more frequently demonstrated inertial injuries (P < .001), more frequently manifested acute respiratory (OR: 43.9; P < .001) and/or circulatory (OR: 60.0; P < .001) compromise, acute encephalopathy (OR: 28.5; P = .003), prolonged impairments of consciousness (OR: 8.4; P = .002), interhemispheric subdural hemorrhage (OR: 10.1; P = .019), and bilateral brain hypoxia, ischemia, or swelling (OR: 241.6; P < .001), and had lower Mental Developmental Index (P = .006) and Gross Motor Quotient (P < .001) scores 6 months after injury. CONCLUSION: For children <3 years of age, head injury depth is a useful indicator of injury causes and mechanisms.

Utility of hepatic transaminases to recognize abuse in children.

OBJECTIVE: Although experts recommend routine screening of hepatic transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) in cases of potential child physical abuse, this practice is highly variable. Our objective was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of routine transaminase testing in young children who underwent consultation for physical abuse. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, observational study of all children younger than 60 months referred for subspecialty evaluation of possible physical abuse. The child abuse team at each center recommended screening transaminases routinely as standard of care for all cases with a reasonable concern for physical abuse. Sensitivity and specificity for transaminases and clinical examination findings to detect identified abdominal injuries were determined, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: Of 1676 consultations, 1272 (76%) patients underwent transaminase testing, and 54 (3.2% [95% confidence interval: 2.4-4.2]) had identified abdominal injuries. Area under the curve for the highest level of either transaminase was 0.85. Using a threshold level of 80 IU/L for either AST or ALT yielded a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 82% (positive likelihood ratio: 4.3; negative likelihood ratio: 0.3). Of injuries with elevated transaminase levels, 14 (26%) were clinically occult, lacking abdominal bruising, tenderness, and distention. Several clinical findings used to predict abdominal injury had high specificity but low sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: In the population of children with concern for physical abuse, abdominal injury is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, but it is not so common as to warrant universal imaging. Abdominal imaging should be considered for potentially abused children when either the AST or ALT level is >80 IU/L or with abdominal bruising, distention, or tenderness.