How Common Are Rib Fractures In Extremely Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants?
- Denise Smurthwaite (denise.smurthwaite{at}cmmc.nhs.uk)
- Neville Wright (neville.wright{at}cmmc.nhs.uk)
- Sarah Russell (sarah.russell{at}cmmc.nhs.uk)
- Anthony Emmerson (anthony.emmerson{at}cmmc.nhs.uk)
Abstract
Background: This study was prompted by incidental finding of healing rib fractures on chest radiographs of ex-preterm born infants, who were admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illnesses within a few weeks of discharge from neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU). Rib fractures in infants, particularly those situated posteriorly, are considered to be specific for non-accidental injury (NAI).
Methods: Retrospective examination of radiographs of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (≤1000g) with a gestation range of 22 of 33 weeks, cared for at a tertiary NICU, between 1998 and 2002, and who had survived ≥4 weeks.
Results: Five out of 72 (7%) infants studied had radiologically apparent rib fractures. None involved posterior rib shafts. All infants with rib fractures died on the NICU.
Conclusions: We conclude that the possibility of NAI should to be considered in ex-ELBW infants found to have rib fractures.
considered, irrespective of a neonatal history of prematurity.
