Characteristics of child abuse by anteroposterior manual compression versus cardiopulmonary resuscitation - Case reports

Lethal and sublethal injuries to infants caused by anteroposterior manual c ompression can be accompanied by lateral rib fractures, hemorrhage into the viscera, and when severe, rupture of large vessels and solid organs. Abuse rs may claim that these injuries were sustained in an attempt to perform ca rdiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The difference between injuries caused b y CPR and injuries caused by inflicted anteroposterior compression is exami ned in one sublethal and two lethal cases.