PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - D Smurthwaite
AU  - N B Wright
AU  - S Russell
AU  - A J Emmerson
AU  - M Z Mughal
TI  - How common are rib fractures in extremely low birth weight preterm infants?
AID  - 10.1136/adc.2007.136853
DP  - 2009 Mar 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
PG  - F138--F139
VI  - 94
IP  - 2
4099  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/94/2/F138.short
4100  - http://fn.bmj.com/content/94/2/F138.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed2009 Mar 01; 94
AB  - 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.