COLPOSCOPY IN EVALUATION OF THE ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM

The purpose of this study was to determine if the colposcope improves detection of genital trauma in adult women who are victims of sexual a ssault compared with gross visual examination alone. A prospective, 1- month pilot study was conducted of 17 women patients who presented con secutively to Charity Hospital New Orleans during April 1994 requestin g sexual assault examinations, Use of the colposcope allowed documenta tion of trauma in 9 of the 17 sexual assault victims (53%), compared w ith 1 of 17 (6%) by gross visualization alone (statistically significa nt: chi(2) = 0.64, P = .0114). The colposcope improved detection of ge nital trauma in adult female sexual assault Victims as compared with g ross visual examination alone at a statistically significant level. Co pyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.