Non-accidental injuries in children

The problem of deliberate injuries to organs and organ systems as observed in the course of child abuse syndrome, currently referred to as non-incidental injuries, is presented. The epidemiology of the condition is discussed and the attention is drawn to the fact that although non-incidental injuries occur in pediatric patients of any age, about 60% of these injuries are observed in children below the age of 3 years. Further on, the diagnostics and clinical presentation of non-incidental injuries is discussed. Skeletal injuries are highlighted as the one of the most common consequences of child abuse. Skeletal injuries are observed in more than 80% of children subjected to non-incidental injuries. Particularly dangerous, however, due to their potentially fatal consequences, are the injuries to the central nervous system. CNS injuries may occur either as the result of direct trauma to the child’s head or indirectly due to the child being shaken violently (shaken child syndrome). Post-traumatic abdominal injuries resulting from child abuse are also discussed.