Serum Cardiac Troponin I in the Evaluation of Nonaccidental Trauma.

Objective: To determine if troponin I is more often elevated in children with suspected nonaccidental trauma (NAT) compared with uninjured children of similar age, and describe associations between troponin I elevation and NAT injuries.

Study Design: Prospective 2-group study of children less than 2 years of age presenting to the emergency department with nonaccidental abdominal, thoracic, or intracranial injuries, and similarly aged uninjured children. Primary outcome was serum troponin I (≥ 0.

Elevated cardiac troponin I level in cases of thoracic nonaccidental trauma.

Background: Injury patterns in nonaccidental trauma (NAT) often include injury to the chest. However, signs and symptoms of cardiac insult are often nonspecific and may be missed. Evaluation with serum cardiac troponin I (CTnI), a specific indicator of myocardial injury, could improve the comprehensive evaluation of patients with suspected NAT.

Retrospective review to determine the utility of follow-up skeletal surveys in child abuse evaluations when the initial skeletal survey is normal.

Objective: The AAP recommends that a follow-up skeletal survey be obtained for all children < 24 months of age who are strongly suspected to be victims of abuse. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the utility of a follow-up skeletal survey in suspected child physical abuse evaluations when the initial skeletal survey is normal.

Methods: A retrospective review of radiology records from September 1, 1998 - January 31, 2007 was conducted.