Skeletal Surveys in Suspected Non-accidental Trauma: Examining the Yield and Current Clinical Practices at a Regional Referral Center in West Virginia.

Introduction Non-accidental trauma (NAT) is a leading cause of pediatric injury and death. When NAT is suspected in children under the age of 24 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using skeletal surveys (SS) to identify acute, healing, or old fractures and to repeat the SS approximately two weeks after initial imaging as acute fractures can sometimes not be seen on initial imaging. In this study, we determined the yield of initial and follow-up SS obtained for suspected NAT in children under the age of 24 months at a regional referral hospital.

Epidemiology of abusive head trauma in West Virginia children <24 months: 2000-2010.

Background: Few states have published statewide epidemiology of abusive head trauma (AHT).

Objective: To examine the statewide epidemiology of AHT in West Virginia (WV), with the primary objective of establishing AHT incidence for comparison to national data, and to use as a baseline for comparison to incidence post-implementation of a statewide AHT prevention program.

Participants And Setting: AHT cases in children less than 2 years old were identified from the 3 tertiary pediatric centers in WV.

Child maltreatment.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are in a unique position to identify and report child abuse. In the career of any practitioner, maltreated children (both physically abused and neglected) will present for management of injuries and infections. There must be a high level of vigilance for, and understanding of, mechanisms of injury and skill in sorting out inflicted injuries or evidence of neglect.