ERIC Number: EJ842978
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-May
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0145-2134
EISSN: N/A
How Useful Are Skeletal Surveys in the Second Year of Life?
Hansen, Karen Kirhofer; Campbell, Kristine A.
Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, v33 n5 p278-281 May 2009
Objective: To evaluate the utility of skeletal surveys in cases of possible physical abuse in the second year of life. Methods: Radiology records for all children under 24 months of age referred to our child protection team from January 2002 through November 2006, who had a skeletal survey performed and/or interpreted by the pediatric radiologists at our hospital were examined. The proportion of skeletal surveys adding information related to the diagnosis of possible child abuse beyond the presenting complaint that led to the consult was determined based on age. The proportion in the second year of life was compared to the proportion in the first year of life using a two-sample proportion test to describe confidence intervals and identify significant differences between the age groups. Results: There was no difference in the utility of skeletal surveys in the second year of life as compared to the first year of life (18.9% vs 22.7%, p = 0.45). This remained true under a "worst case scenario" analysis employed to account for clinical ordering bias (p = 0.16). Conclusions: Our study provides needed evidence to support current recommendations to obtain skeletal surveys for all children under 2 years of age in the evaluation of possible physical abuse. Skeletal surveys are just as useful in the second year of life as in the first year of life in cases of possible physical abuse. Practice Implications: The results of this study will reinforce the need for clinicians to obtain skeletal surveys in the second year of life in cases of possible physical abuse. (Contains 2 figures and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Child Abuse, Human Body, Surveys, Toddlers, Medical Evaluation, Radiology, Comparative Analysis, Age Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A