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Small bowel perforation and fatal peritonitis following a fall in a 21-month-old child
Andrew M Davison1, Edgar J Lazda
1Wales Institute of Forensic Medicine, Cardiff University College of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. davisonam@cardiff.ac.uk
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|March 18, 2009
Insights
A child
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Pediatric surgery
- Abdominal trauma
Background:
- Peritonitis is a critical condition often resulting from abdominal trauma.
- Small bowel perforation requires prompt diagnosis and intervention.
- Accurate determination of injury mechanism is crucial in pediatric cases.
Observation:
- A 21-month-old female presented with fatal peritonitis.
- Necropsy findings excluded natural disease as a cause.
- A Coronial investigation was initiated to determine the cause of injury.
Findings:
- The investigation concluded the peritonitis resulted from small bowel perforation.
- The injury was attributed to an accidental fall onto a "doorstop".
- Diagnostic challenges and the mechanism of injury were discussed.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering external trauma in pediatric peritonitis.
- Understanding injury mechanisms aids in preventing future incidents.
- Forensic and clinical investigations are vital for accurate diagnosis and causation.
Abstract:
The authors report a case of fatal peritonitis due to small bowel perforation in a 21-month-old female child. Necropsy excluded natural disease and a thorough Coronial investigation concluded that an accidental fall onto a "doorstop" caused the bowel injury. The investigative findings are presented; the discussion address issues of diagnosis and causation/mechanism of injury.
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