›High-specificity fractures for abuse
›Classic metaphyseal lesions (corner or bucket-handle fractures)
›Posterior rib fractures in infants
›Scapular, sternal, and spinous process fractures
›Follow-up skeletal survey at 2 weeks
›Identifies additional healing fractures in 8-38% of initial surveys
›Recommended for all children with high suspicion regardless of initial result
›International Consensus Statement (JAMA Pediatrics 2023) supports follow-up survey
Scoring Systems Additional
›Fracture dating and specificity
›Posterior rib fractures
›Highly specific for NAT — require significant force (squeezing mechanism)
›Not caused by CPR in infants in most studies
›Classic metaphyseal lesions
›High specificity for inflicted injury in infants
›Located at periosteum-rich distal long bone metaphysis
›Brain MRI indications
›Characterization of intracranial injury after initial CT
›Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) — best detected on MRI
›Hypoxic-ischemic injury pattern
›Subdural collection dating and characterization
›Sequences in suspected abusive head trauma
›T1, T2, FLAIR, DWI, GRE/SWI (gradient echo or susceptibility-weighted)
›SWI most sensitive for microhemorrhage and DAI
›MRI brain with and without contrast if cerebral venous thrombosis suspected
›Spinal MRI
›Indicated when vertebral or ligamentous injury suspected
›Cervical spine injury associated with shaking mechanism
›Subdural hematoma along spinal cord (cervical or thoracic)
›Timing: MRI within 24-72 hours of presentation for optimal injury characterization
›ACR Appropriateness Criteria 2025: MRI recommended after initial non-contrast CT in suspected abusive head trauma
›Head CT — first-line neuroimaging
›Indications
›All children under 6 months with suspected abuse
›Any child with neurological symptoms: seizure, altered consciousness, vomiting
›Suspected skull fracture or scalp hematoma
›GCS <15
›Non-contrast head CT protocol
›Subdural hematoma: crescent-shaped hyperdense collection along falx or tentorium
›Epidural hematoma: biconvex hyperdense collection (usually arterial)
›Cerebral edema: loss of gray-white differentiation
›Skull fracture: bone windows essential; multiple or complex fractures more concerning
›PECARN rules NOT applicable in suspected NAT population
›Abdominal and pelvic CT with contrast
›Indications
›AST or ALT >80 U/L
›Lipase elevation
›Abdominal tenderness, guarding, or distension
›Hematuria >5 RBC/HPF
›Injuries detected
›Hepatic laceration or contusion
›Splenic laceration
›Pancreatic transection (duodenal hematoma)
›Bowel perforation or mesenteric hematoma
›Renal or adrenal injury
›Mechanism: shear forces from rapid deceleration or direct blows
›Abdominal CT yield: detects occult abdominal injury not clinically apparent in 10-15% of NAT cases
›Ultrasound applications in NAT
›FAST exam (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma)
›Free fluid in peritoneum or pericardium in unstable child
›Sensitivity lower than CT; negative FAST does not exclude injury
›Useful in hemodynamically unstable child before OR
›Cranial ultrasound in neonates and young infants
›Detects large intraventricular hemorrhage and hydrocephalus
›Limited sensitivity for subdural collections especially at convexities
›Not adequate to exclude abusive head trauma — CT or MRI required
›Bone ultrasound
›Not standard of care for fracture identification in NAT workup
›Skeletal survey remains preferred modality
›Transabdominal ultrasound
›May identify free fluid, liver laceration in cooperative child
›CT with contrast preferred for comprehensive abdominal evaluation