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Radiology in Suspected Child Abuse

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Forensic Aspects of Paediatric Fractures

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Abstract

In 1946, the paediatric radiologist John P. Caffey was the first to describe the relation between the presence of multiple fractures of the long bones and subdural haematomas in six children in whom no previous trauma was known. Since then, radiology plays a pivotal role in the detection and description of fractures related to potential child abuse. It is not uncommon that radiologists are the first clinicians that raise the possibility of potential non-accidental injury. In this chapter the importance of radiological imaging protocols, such as those from the Royal College of Radiologists and the Society and College of Radiographers and the American College of Radiology, is highlighted. The different imaging techniques and their indications and limitations in living and deceased victims of potential child are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Rick R. van Rijn

  2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Rick R. van Rijn

  3. Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Rutger A. J. Nievelstein

  4. Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Simon G. F. Robben

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  3. Simon G. F. Robben
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Correspondence to Rick R. van Rijn .

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  1. Veilig Thuis Rotterdam Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Rob A.C. Bilo

  2. Paediatric Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Simon G. F. Robben

  3. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Rick R. van Rijn

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van Rijn, R.R., Nievelstein, R.A.J., Robben, S.G.F. (2023). Radiology in Suspected Child Abuse. In: Bilo, R.A., Robben, S.G.F., van Rijn, R.R. (eds) Forensic Aspects of Paediatric Fractures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12041-1_3

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