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Spinal injury in a child where child physical abuse should be suspected

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • physical abuse should be suspected if a child presents with signs of a spinal injury (injury to vertebrae or within the spinal canal) in the absence of major confirmed accidental trauma. Spinal injury may present as:  
    • a finding on skeletal survey or magnetic resonance imaging
    • cervical injury in association with inflicted head injury
    • thoracolumbar injury in association with focal neurology or unexplained kyphosis (curvature or deformity of the spine)
  • for the purposes of this guideline, NICE state that to suspect child maltreatment means a serious level of concern about the possibility of child maltreatment but is not proof of it

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