Diagnostic Imaging of Non-Accidental Injury and Percutaneous Foreign Bodies: A Case Report from Zambia

Autor: John Musuku, Mulewa Mulenga, Mike Chisha, Suzyo Mutambo, Osward Bwanga, Ernest Chanda
Rok vydání: 2021
Zdroj: Medical Journal of Zambia. 48:141-147
ISSN: 0047-651X
Popis: This case report presents the role imaging played in the diagnosis and surgical removal of multiple percutaneous foreign bodies in a 5-year-old childwho presented with non-accidental injuries (NAI) to medical facilities in Zambia. Children are commonly referred for imaging with suspectedaccidental foreign bodies, but percutaneous foreign bodies due to NAI are rare. NAI is caused due to child physical abuse and therefore, imaging plays amajor role in the diagnosis and provision of legal evidence. In this case report, conventional radiography (plain film) of askeletal survey was the first imaging requested. This was supplemented with a computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and abdomen. Lastly, foreign bodies were removed under the guidance of the image intensifier. Although, the cases of NAI reported and presented in medical facilities in Zambia are rare, this caseshows that physical child abuse is practiced in ourcommunities. Thus, radiographers and radiologists should pay attention to such cases during imaging and reporting, respectively.
Databáze: OpenAIRE