%0 Journal Article %A D Smurthwaite %A N B Wright %A S Russell %A A J Emmerson %A M Z Mughal %T How common are rib fractures in extremely low birth weight preterm infants? %D 2009 %R 10.1136/adc.2007.136853 %J Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition %P F138-F139 %V 94 %N 2 %X Background: This study was prompted by incidental finding of healing rib fractures on chest radiographs of ex-preterm born infants, who were admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illnesses within a few weeks of discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Rib fractures in infants, particularly those situated posteriorly, are considered to be specific for non-accidental injury (NAI).Methods: Retrospective examination of radiographs of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (⩽1000 g) with a gestation range of 22 of 33 weeks, cared for at a tertiary NICU, between 1998 and 2002, and who had survived ⩾4 weeks.Results: Five out of 72 (7%) infants studied had radiologically apparent rib fractures. None involved posterior rib shafts. All infants with rib fractures died on the NICU.Conclusions: The possibility of NAI should be considered in ex-ELBW infants found to have rib fractures. %U https://fn.bmj.com/content/fetalneonatal/94/2/F138.full.pdf