Validation of a Clinical Decision Rule to Predict Abuse in Young Children Based on Bruising Characteristics.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Bruising caused by physical abuse is the most common antecedent injury to be overlooked or misdiagnosed as nonabusive before an abuse-related fatality or near-fatality in a young child. Bruising occurs from both nonabuse and abuse, but differences identified by a clinical decision rule may allow improved and earlier recognition of the abused child.

Objective

To refine and validate a previously derived bruising clinical decision rule (BCDR), the TEN-4 (bruising to torso, ear, or neck or any bruising on an infant <4.99 months of age), for identifying children at risk of having been physically abused.

Design, setting, and participants

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2011, to March 31, 2016, at emergency departments of 5 ur

SUBMITTER: Pierce MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8047759 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature