Intimate Partner Violence and Pet Abuse: Responding Law Enforcement Officers' Observations and Victim Reports From the Scene.

The risk of harm/injury in homes where intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs is not limited to humans; animals reside in as many as 80% of these homes and may be at substantial risk of suffering severe or fatal injury. Gaining a better understanding of IPV-pet abuse overlap is imperative in more accurately identifying the risks of harm for all individuals and animals residing in these homes. The objectives of this study were to utilize law enforcement officers' observations and IPV victim reports from the scene of the incident to (a) determine the prevalence of pet abuse perpetration among suspects involved in IPV incidents, (b) compare characteristics of IPV incidents and the home environments in which they occur when the suspect has a history of pet abuse with incidents involving suspects with no reported history of pet abuse, and (c) compare IPV incident outcomes involving suspects with a history of pet abuse with those involving suspects with no reported history of pet abuse. IPV victims residing in homes with a suspect who has a history of pet abuse often describe "extremely high-risk" environments. With nearly 80% reporting concern that they will eventually be killed by the suspect, victims in these environments should be considered at significant risk of suffering serious injury or death. In addition, IPV victims involved in incidents with a suspect that has a history of pet abuse were significantly more likely to have had at least one prior unreported IPV incident with the suspect (80%) and to have ever been strangled (76%) or forced to have sex with the suspect (26%). Effective prevention/detection/intervention strategies are likely to require multidisciplinary collaboration and safety plans that address the susbstantial risk of harm/injury for all adults, children, and animals residing in the home.

Consultations in Child Abuse Pediatrics.

This study describes a hospital-based child abuse pediatrics consultation service. Medical records for all child abuse pediatrics consultations during 2006 to 2009 were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Of 2495 consultations, 13 were excluded due to insufficient information, 1682 were examinations for suspected sexual abuse, and 800 were examinations for nonsexual abuse concerns. Among the latter group of 800 patients, the most common reasons for consultation were fracture (33.5%), nonburn skin injury (16.8%), burn (15.4%), and intracranial injury (13.2%). Median patient age was 11 months (range = 3 days to 16 years). Case fatality rate was 3.9%. Final diagnosis was classified as definite/likely abuse in 40.0%, questionable/unknown in 24.5%, definite/likely accident in 23.6%, no injury in 4.6%, neglect in 4.0%, and a medical condition in 3.2%. Therefore, among consultations requested for suspected child maltreatment, a child abuse pediatrician concluded that abuse was definite or likely in less than half of patients.

Classic metaphyseal lesion acquired during physical therapy.

A classic metaphyseal lesion (CML) is highly specific for nonaccidental trauma. Missing CMLs can be devastating to the child as the child can continue to be exposed to inflicted trauma. Yet, there are rare case reports on CMLs that occur due to birth trauma, IV line placement, and treatment for clubfoot. We present a case of a CML in the tibia that occurred in the hospital secondary to physical therapy, that also caused a femoral shaft fracture, in a term child with hypertonic lower extremities secondary to myelomeningocele. Radiologists, as well as child abuse pediatricians, should be aware of the rare exception when CML is secondary to non-abusive injury.