Frenal injury in children is not pathognomic of non-accidental injury

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A J Kidd1, T F Beattie, G Campbell-Hewson

  • 1Accident and Emergency Department, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh EH9 1LF, UK. Alastair.kidd@luht.scot.nhs.uk

Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|December 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Upper labial frenal tears are common in mobile infants and often occur with other facial injuries. This suggests accidental trauma, not necessarily non-accidental injury, is a frequent cause.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric medicine
  • Trauma surgery
  • Forensic pediatrics

Background:

  • Upper labial frenal tears in infants are traditionally linked to non-accidental injury.
  • This association warrants careful consideration in clinical evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence and context of upper labial frenal tears in young children.
  • To evaluate the association between upper labial frenal tears and non-accidental injury in ambulant children.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected over 12 months from a pediatric facial injury study.
  • Analysis focused on injury patterns, child's mobility, and associated facial trauma.

Main Results:

  • Upper labial frenal tears are common in ambulant children.
  • These tears were frequently associated with other facial injuries.
  • Child's mobility and injury mechanism are key factors in assessment.

Conclusions:

  • Upper labial frenal tears in mobile infants are not exclusively indicative of abuse.
  • Accidental trauma, especially in active children, is a significant cause.
  • Thorough assessment of mobility and injury mechanism is crucial to differentiate accidental from abusive injuries.

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