Height and body proportions in child abuse

Abused children are said to retain 'infantile body proportions'. The presenting height, sitting height, and leg length standard deviation scores of 91 victims have been calculated from data derived from a study of local inner city schoolchildren. In the study population 31/91 (34%) were si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 1992-05, Vol.67 (5), p.632-635
Main Authors: Wales, J K, Herber, S M, Taitz, L S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Aging - pathology
Anthropometry
Biological and medical sciences
Body Height
Child
Child Abuse - diagnosis
Child Abuse - pathology
Child clinical studies
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Leg - pathology
Male
Medical sciences
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Reference Values
Sex Factors
Social Class
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Summary:Abused children are said to retain 'infantile body proportions'. The presenting height, sitting height, and leg length standard deviation scores of 91 victims have been calculated from data derived from a study of local inner city schoolchildren. In the study population 31/91 (34%) were significantly short and all but two of these had relatively shorter legs than backs, this limb disproportion being significant in 17. In 25 patients of the original group followed up after various social interventions there was a significant recovery of leg length. Measurement of height and proportionality, especially when compared with appropriate modern or local standards, is an important means of detecting and following up victims of child abuse.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/adc.67.5.632