DISTAL HUMERAL PHYSEAL INJURIES IN CHILD-ABUSE - MR-IMAGING AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY FINDINGS

Distal humeral physeal injuries, in particular, fracture-separation of the distal humeral epiphysis, can be seen in abused infants. Detectio n of physeal injury in an infant or toddler may indicate the possibili ty of unsuspected abuse, particularly when an appropriate history expl aining the circumstance of the fracture is lacking. In addition, the e xtent of injury can be difficult to characterize on plain radiographs. Ultrasonography (US) and MR imaging (MRI) may be of value in diagnosi s and may obviate the need for intraoperative arthrography, We present MRI findings in three abused children with distal humeral physeal inj uries. Sonographic correlation is also presented in one case.