Child Abuse Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Child Abuse, including details on family violence, examinations, long-term effects, psychiatrics disorders.

Complete distal humeral epiphyseal separation indicating a battered child syndrome: a case report.

Hansen M, Weltzien A, Blum J, Botterill NJ, Rommens PM

Clinic for Trauma-, Hand- and Reconstructive Surgery, City Hospital Worms, Gabriel-von-Seidl-Str. 81, 67550, Worms, Germany, hansen-mainz@gmx.de.

BACKGROUND: Complete distal humeral epiphysiolysis is a rare and uncommon injury and may result from severe trauma, e.g. birth injury or battered child syndrome. CASE REPORT: This is a case report of a 5-month-old female child with distal humeral epiphysiolysis. In the course of clinical and radiological examinations, a battered child syndrome could be diagnosed. Open reduction and temporary transfixation of the distal humeral physis were performed. In the middle term follow-up, 1.5-years after the injury, the function of the elbow was nearly normal but the ulnar condyle showed growth disturbance with cubitus varus of 10 degrees . CONCLUSION: Correct diagnosis of complete distal humeral epiphysiolysis may be difficult and misinterpretation of the injury as elbow dislocation should be avoided. This particular lesion is a strong indicator of child abuse. Treatment options and the necessity of operative procedures are discussed.

Published 29 October 2007 in Arch Orthop Trauma Surg.
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