Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-12-2025

Identifier

DOI: 10.1542/pedsos.2025-000731; PMCID: PMC12834559

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Physical abuse is a common cause of morbidity in infants but is often missed in those with medically minor injuries, increasing the risk for escalating violence. Our objective was to compare the prevalence of abuse-specific injuries among infants with and without prior injuries.

METHODS: This is a retrospective, multicenter study of infants (aged < 12 months) undergoing child abuse pediatrics provider (CAP) consultation for suspected physical abuse between 2/2021 and 12/2022 at 10 participating US centers. Encounters were dichotomized into those with and without history of prior injury. The groups were compared for rates of diagnostic screening and prevalence of abuse-specific injuries. The association of prior injuries with identification of abuse-specific injury was assessed using logistic regression controlling for demographics and presence of prior injury.

RESULTS: We identified 2352 eligible encounters (median age: 4.2 months), of which 13% had a history of prior injury. In infants who underwent diagnostic testing, injury identification was significantly higher in those with prior injury (45% vs 22%,

CONCLUSION: Infants with prior injury undergoing CAP evaluation for suspected physical abuse have higher odds of abuse-specific injuries compared with those without prior injury. This study emphasizes the importance of standardized history and evaluation in infants presenting with concerning injuries.

Journal Title

Pediatr Open Sci

Volume

1

Issue

4

First Page

1

Last Page

10

PubMed ID

41602585

Comments

Grants and funding

This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license and permits non-commercial use of the work as published, without adaptation or alteration provided the work is fully attributed.

Publisher's Link: https://doi.org/10.1542/pedsos.2025-000731

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