non-accidental injury

don't go it alone!

  • ED seniors, paeds, local safeguarding team all there to help.

red flags

➥ bruising in non-mobile child
➥ facial injuries on soft tissue of face
➥ injuries on “triangle of safety”, ear pinna
➥ delayed presentation, inconsistent story, abnormal interaction between child and parent
➥ recurrent attendance, especially in different hospitals

'ten-4 faces p': suspicious places to have a bruise

  • torso
  • ear
  • neck
  • anywhere on infant <4 months
  • frenulum
  • angle of jaw
  • cheek
  • eyelids
  • subconjunctival
  • patterned

investigations approach (as per RCPCH)

  • FBC, Clotting screen, LFT
  • Vit D, PTH
  • skeletal survey
  • CT head? MRI brain?
  • Ophthalmology

misc medicolegal aspects

  • Police if parent leaves department with child before being assessed