Femoral neck fracture as the sentinel sign of child abuse in an infant: a case report.

Abstract

Child abuse is a significant problem encountered by orthopedic surgeons in the USA. Fractures are the second most common presentation of physical abuse. In this case report, we present a 5-month-old male infant who initially presented with acute hip pain secondary to a femoral neck fracture as a result of abuse. The patient was taken to the operating room for open reduction and pinning of the femoral neck fracture. Further investigation found evidence of fractures of the bilateral femur and fibula at various stages of healing. To our knowledge, a femoral neck fracture in a nonambulatory infant resulting from abuse has not been reported previously. Physicians treating these injuries should consider child abuse in their differential diagnosis when presented with this clinical scenario. Level IV.