Citation

Norrell K, Hennrikus W. JBJS Case Connect. 2017; 7(3): e69.

Affiliation

1Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery (K.N. and W.H.) and General Surgery (K.N.), Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc., Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.2106/JBJS.CC.16.00221

PMID

29244703

Abstract

CASE: The classic metaphyseal lesion, or corner fracture, is considered a strong indicator of nonaccidental trauma. In the present case, the parents brought their 8-month-old boy to a community hospital after he stopped crawling on the right leg. A knee radiograph demonstrated an isolated metaphyseal lesion, which prompted concern for child abuse. The patient was transferred to the nearest academic medical center; the pediatric radiology expert in child abuse determined that the lesion was a normal variant and not the result of abuse.

CONCLUSION: An isolated metaphyseal lesion is not pathognomonic for child abuse, and a thoughtful differential diagnosis should be considered.

Language: en