Pediatric skeletal trauma

Children with traumatic injuries present an emotionally and professionally demanding situation for radiologic technologists. A child's fear and anxiety, developmental stage and the psychological impact on parents and caregivers all affect the technologist's ability to perform a rapid but technically excellent exam. This article examines the specific causes and presentations of unintentional (as opposed to abuse-related) skeletal trauma in children, with emphasis on the role of imaging. The differences between children and adults in terms of injury patterns, healing and complications are discussed, along with efforts to reduce the incidence of childhood skeletal trauma.