Child Youth Maltreatment Committee

Question 1

How are bruises from common accidental injury classically described as?

Answer 1

1. Relatively small
2. Oval to round, nondistinct borders
3. Located above or near bony prominences on the front of the body (i.e. forehead, knees, shins)
4. No recognizable shape or patterns

Question 2

List the six red flags for bruising

Answer 2

1. Bruises in babies who are not yet cruising
2. Bruises on the ears, neck, feet, buttocks or torso (torso includes chest, back, abdomen, genitalia)
3. Not on the front of the body and/or overlying bone
4. Unusually large or numerous
5. Clustered or patterned (patterns may include handprints, loop or belt marks, bite marks)
6. Bruises that do not fit with the causal mechanism described