Bone biochemistry in children with fractures presenting with non-accidental injury.

Physical abuse Vitamin D

Journal

Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
02 Mar 2024
Historique:
received: 11 12 2023
revised: 01 02 2024
accepted: 07 02 2024
medline: 3 3 2024
pubmed: 3 3 2024
entrez: 3 3 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

In cases of fractures in children with suspicion of non-accidental injury (NAI), biochemical markers of calcium homeostasis should be performed. To describe the pattern of biochemistry in children with fractures NAI is suspected. Children ≤2 years of age who had undergone a skeletal survey as part of a child protection investigation where 1/+ fracture was identified over a ten-year period (2012-2021) at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. A retrospective review of case notes was conducted. Established criteria to classify NAI were used to distinguish confirmed NAI from non-NAI. Biochemical markers of calcium homeostasis were classified as normal or abnormal using local reference ranges. Vitamin D deficiency was classified as Vitamin D < 25 nmol/L and insufficiency as 25-50 nmol/L. One hundred and twenty-seven children were identified, of whom 107 (84 %) had bone biochemistry performed. Twenty-nine children (24 %) had injuries that were classified as confirmed NAI. In cases where NAI was confirmed either at case conference or by criminal conviction 14/29 (48 %) had one or more abnormal bone biochemical markers. None of the children displayed clinical or radiological evidence of rickets. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was higher in children with confirmed NAI (median 296 vs. 261, p = 0.01) but there were no other statistically significant differences in biochemical levels between those with confirmed NAI compared to those without. Those with confirmed NAI were from areas with lower SIMD score (2.0 vs. 3.0 p = 0.01) but no other differences were found between the groups. No clear predictors of NAI are demonstrated on biochemistry alone in young children with fractures.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
In cases of fractures in children with suspicion of non-accidental injury (NAI), biochemical markers of calcium homeostasis should be performed.
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE
To describe the pattern of biochemistry in children with fractures NAI is suspected.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING METHODS
Children ≤2 years of age who had undergone a skeletal survey as part of a child protection investigation where 1/+ fracture was identified over a ten-year period (2012-2021) at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.
METHODS METHODS
A retrospective review of case notes was conducted. Established criteria to classify NAI were used to distinguish confirmed NAI from non-NAI. Biochemical markers of calcium homeostasis were classified as normal or abnormal using local reference ranges. Vitamin D deficiency was classified as Vitamin D < 25 nmol/L and insufficiency as 25-50 nmol/L.
RESULTS RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-seven children were identified, of whom 107 (84 %) had bone biochemistry performed. Twenty-nine children (24 %) had injuries that were classified as confirmed NAI. In cases where NAI was confirmed either at case conference or by criminal conviction 14/29 (48 %) had one or more abnormal bone biochemical markers. None of the children displayed clinical or radiological evidence of rickets. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was higher in children with confirmed NAI (median 296 vs. 261, p = 0.01) but there were no other statistically significant differences in biochemical levels between those with confirmed NAI compared to those without. Those with confirmed NAI were from areas with lower SIMD score (2.0 vs. 3.0 p = 0.01) but no other differences were found between the groups.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
No clear predictors of NAI are demonstrated on biochemistry alone in young children with fractures.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38431992
pii: S0145-2134(24)00076-0
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106693
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

106693

Informations de copyright

Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Auteurs

Angela K Lucas-Herald (AK)

Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.

Owen Forbes (O)

Child Protection Service, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.

Heather McDonald (H)

Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.

Jane McNeilly (J)

Department of Biochemistry, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.

Therese Bradley (T)

Department of Laboratory Genetics, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.

Daniel Wood (D)

Department of Laboratory Genetics, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.

Helen McDevitt (H)

Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.

James Houston (J)

Child Protection Service, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.

Avril Mason (A)

Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: avril.mason@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.

Classifications MeSH