Keywords:
Forensic / Necropsy studies, Emergency, CT, Image manipulation / Reconstruction, Conventional radiography, Diagnostic procedure, Medico-legal issues, Observer performance, Trauma, Forensics, Acute
Authors:
M. Matteoli, C. De Dominicis, D. Serata, V. David; Rome/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-0280
Conclusion
The radiographic evaluation of these clinical settings,
let us conclude that the role of the radiologist,
as in the child abuse,
is to identify the possible signs of violence,
first of all,
according with the physician,
the clinical-radiological discrepancy,
where the entities of the lesions are too serious instead the traumatic event reported,
or reported by other persons near the victim.
One important point is to identify the possible spy of continuous bad treating,
the presence of old fractures and new fractures could be a radiological signs of continuous violence. The physician have to take a look at the morphology of the cutaneous lesions,
if the ecchymoses have a not fresh aspect,
and the trauma is suspiciously older than 48 hours,
it could be a sign of not-accidental injury .
In Western society the woman abuse is an increasing social and medical emergency,
that needs a multi disciplinary approach.
Most compelling,
is the findings that the victims of domestic violence were 7.5 times more likely to experience head,
neck,
and face (HNF) injuries,
than other trauma patients.
Radiologist could have an important role to sospect and to document the effects of violence.
It is mandatory to identify battered women at first accesses in ED,
to avoid other episodes of the same violence.