NCJ Number
308931
Date Published
September 2024
Abstract
Abuse is the leading cause of trauma-related fatalities in children younger than four years old. However, recognizing physical abuse in pediatric patients can be difficult. Young children sustain injuries, including bruises and broken bones, during normal age-appropriate activities such as learning to walk or riding a bicycle. Differentiating expected accidental injuries from nonaccidental injuries (i.e., child abuse) is challenging for the medical and medicolegal communities.