Micro-CT for the examination of paediatric rib injuries: A case series

Cases of child abuse and homicide are amongst the biggest challenges investigators face, with complex evidence bases often strongly contested reliant on specialist interpretation medical evidence. In many cases, this includes examination deceased’s skeleton using different macroscopic microscopic imaging methods. Rib fractures a common concern when examining suspicious cases much research has been conducted their causes. The role CPR in particular controversial therefore clear assessment fracture distribution is crucial. Recent studies have shown benefit techniques such as Computed Tomography, although gold standard remains histology. This paper presents three suspected non-accidental rib infants which had examined micro-CT Micro-CT to be superior CT it achieves greater resolution, making effective for paediatric post-mortem imaging. observations were compared retrospectively histology, demonstrated that found 69% identified histologically well an additional 22% not through As complimenting histological analysis, extent can enhance overall injuries also discussed.