Non-Accidental Injury (NAI)

Question 1

Signs of NAI

Answer 1

• Other signs of abuse
• Facial injuries in infants
• Injuries to non-mobile children
• Unexplained intracranial injury, including Subdural haemorrhages, hypoxic ischaemic injury
• Human bite marks, require Forensic Odontologist to define if adult or not
• Bruising to non-mobile infants, or occurring over soft tissue areas such as cheeks, abdomen, inner thigh, upper arm. Likewise bruising to the neck, ear or hands in a young child
• Rib fractures in the absence of metabolic bone disease, or major trauma
• Long bone fractures in a child less than 18/12 of age without adequate accidental explanation, or multiple fractures of differing ages
• Contact burns on the back of the hand, back, shoulders or other unusual sites, including cigarette burns especially if multiple
• Immersion scalds, affecting the lower limbs +/- buttocks, perineum, or upper / lower limbs in ‘glove and stocking’ distribution
• Unusual injuries in inaccessible sited e.g. neck, armpit, groin etc.