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Case Series: Vaginal Rupture Injuries after Sexual Assault in Children and Adolescents
Margaret Abraham1, Jamie Kondis2, Diane F Merritt1
1Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.
Background:
Vaginal rupture after sexual assault is a rare but life-threatening occurrence requiring prompt recognition and treatment. Herein, we describe four such cases in children. Our purposes are to increase clinicians' awareness of the physical trauma that a sexual abuse victim can suffer and increase recognition that these victims require immediate trauma services.
Cases:
Each patient had obvious hymenal and vaginal lacerations with a vaginal apical rupture injury and secondary acute blood loss. None of the four victims sustained infectious sequelae.
Summary And Conclusion:
Providers should have a low threshold for managing sexual abuse victims as trauma cases when they have obvious hymenal and vaginal lacerations and genital bleeding, proceeding expeditiously to examination using general anesthesia when appropriate.