The Danish Health Authority estimates that around 600 cases of suspected physical or mental abuse happen in Denmark each year (non-accidental injuries). It can be difficult for the individual hospital physician to judge the weight of such a suspicion due to sparse information, and thus if further protective initiatives are required. Prehospital care providers can make observations at the scene of the injury, which can be of great importance to the treating hospital physician.

Purpose

To investigate the occurance of non-accidental injuries in children brought to hospital by ambulance or helicopter. To examine which observations were made at the scene of the injury in cases where the hospital physician subsequently had suspected a non-accidental injury.

Method

Nationwide case series using data from the Danish Health Data Authority and pre-hospital patient medical records.

Collaboration

Researchers from several medical specialties; pre-hospital medicine, social paediatrics and traumatology/orthopaedic surgery.