STRICTURE OF THE DUODENUM AND JEJUNUM IN AN ABUSED-CHILD

We report a case of abdominal injury secondary to child abuse in which the child had both a duodenal hematoma and contained perforations of the duodenum and proximal jejunum. These injuries were evaluated by bo th CT scan and upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. The child's nausea and vomiting persisted despite conservative treatment; after 3 weeks a repeat upper GI series demonstrated high-grade duodenal obstruction. An exploratory lagarotomy was performed and a calcified, fibrotic mese ntery and strictures in the distal duodenum and proximal jejunum were found, To our knowledge, this unusual complication of blunt abdominal trauma has not been described in association with child abuse.