The tip of the iceberg for child abuse: The critical roles of the pediatric trauma service and its registry

David C. Chang, Vinita Knight, Susan Ziegfeld, Adil Haider, Dawn Warfield, Charles Paidas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The incidence of child abuse is approximately 10% of all children presenting to an emergency department (ED), with a mortality rate less than 1%. By contrast, the characteristics of the subset of abused children presenting to a pediatric trauma service (PTS) is not well defined. Methods: This study was a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected information from an urban Level I pediatric trauma registry from 1990 to 2002 (n = 11,919). Child abuse cases and their perpetrators were identified by E-codes. Patterns of injuries were examined by integer International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, and diagnostic model was evaluated by discrimination and goodness-of-fit. Results: A total of 171 cases of child abuse (1.4%) were identified, and the majority were boys (59%, p > 0.05 vs. non-abuse cases). The median age of the abused cohort was younger than 1 year old, and the number of abuse cases did not differ over time (mean, 11 per year.) Abused children present with a higher median Injury Severity Score (10 vs. 4, p < 0.01), more severe injuries of the head and integument, longer hospital lengths of stay (4 vs. 1 day, p < 0.01), and a higher mortality rate (12% vs. 2%, p < 0.01). The following variables emerged with significant association to abuse: fracture of base or vault of skull, contusion of eye, rib fracture, intracranial bleeding, multiple burns, and age. A new Diagnostic Index for Physical Child Abuse was created. Conclusion: Significant characteristics of the abused children in this pediatric trauma service include higher Injury Severity Score (especially in the head and integument), requirement for longer lengths of stay, and a nearly 10-times higher risk of death compared with the ED population. The Diagnostic Index for Physical Child Abuse is proposed as a new tool to assist in the identification of child abuse among pediatric trauma patients. An epidemiologic triangle for child abuse is described, with different prevalence and severity of child abuse seen at different levels of our health care system, starting with primary care providers, followed by the ED, the PTS, and ultimately the medical examiners. The number of cases decreases from the bottom to the top of the health care system, but the mortality rate increases as abuse escalates through the triangle. This establishes the PTS as possibly the final gatekeeper before an abused case becomes a fatality. These data emphasize the need for rigorous registry evaluation and subsequent evidence-based prevention initiatives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1189-1198
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume57
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Child abuse
  • Diagnostic index
  • Trauma

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The tip of the iceberg for child abuse: The critical roles of the pediatric trauma service and its registry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this