Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Emergency, CT, Diagnostic procedure, Trauma, Forensics
Authors:
M. Matteoli1, M. Vinciguerra1, A. Pallavicino2, B. sessa2, V. Miele2, G. Angeletti2, L. G. Vismara1, V. David1, C. De Dominicis1; 1Roma (RM)/IT, 2Roma/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2011/C-0693
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
Although traumatic injury represents only the tip of the iceberg in patients who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence,
in the patients with hidden trauma,
the radiologist is able to suspect the possible violence by the discrepancy between the clinical history and the severity of the fractures,
the age of the fractures and mechanism of fracture.
Then radiographic examinations can be able to document the woman abuse for legal use
The authors of several studies have suggested that victims of domestic violence present for medical care more frequently and that they are more likely to have chronic,
pain-related,
and nonspecific medical complaints than their nonabused counterparts.
As with child abuse,
a delay in seeking care,
multiple visits and history inconsistent with injuries or complaint should all suggest a line of inquiry addressing possible domestic violence.
Victims of intentional trauma frequently report for care on a delayed basis 57% of battered women presented for care more than 24 hours after their injuries were reportedly inflicted.
Only 14% of women victims of motor vehicle accidents presented for care more than 24 hours after their injury.