Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
National surveys conducted over the last decade [1–3] have highlighted inconsistencies among departments as regards the projections and quality of images obtained when child abuse is suspected. Has publication of the results of these surveys led to any improvement? We would like to think so, and while a follow-up UK audit demonstrated only a modest increase in adherence to the then-British Society of Paediatric Radiology guidelines [4], anecdotally we believe that the quality of skeletal surveys and therefore the accuracy and speed of diagnosis in these cases has significantly improved.
However, rather than repeating national surveys, under the leadership of Rick van Rijn (ex-chairperson of the ESPR (European Society of Paediatric Radiology) Child Abuse Taskforce), a Europe-wide survey of ESPR members was undertaken. The linked article in this edition of Pediatric Radiology [5] presents the findings.
Here, we would like to emphasize the key outcome that followed presentation of the results by Amaka Offiah to the Child Abuse Taskforce during the ESPR meeting in Budapest, Hungary, in June 2013, namely an overwhelming vote in favor of adopting the Royal College of Radiologists/Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCR/RCPCH) Guidelines for Imaging in Suspected Non-Accidental Injury [6] as the standard across Europe. We believe this will lead to improved detection of abuse in children and to more robust safeguarding protocols, and it is with great pleasure that we announce that the ESPR committee has ratified this move. The guidelines are available at http://www.rcr.ac.uk/docs/radiology/pdf/RCPCH_RCR_final.pdf.
We are in the process of translating these guidelines into other major European languages, and would ask you, in your various countries and beyond, to please spread the word.
References
Offiah AC, Hall CM (2003) Observational study of skeletal surveys in non-accidental injury. Clin Radiol 58:702–705
Kleinman PL, Kleinman PK, Savageau JA (2004) Suspected infant abuse: radiographic skeletal survey practices in pediatric health care facilities. Radiology 233:477–485
Van Rijn RR, Kleviet N, Hoekstra R et al (2009) Radiology in suspected non-accidental injury: theory and practice in The Netherlands. Eur J Radiol 71:147–151
Swinson S, Tapp M, Brindley R et al (2008) An audit of skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental injury following publication of the British Society of Paediatric Radiology guidelines. Clin Radiol 63:651–656
Hulson O, van Rijn RR, Offiah AC (2014) Results of a European-wide survey regarding imaging in non-accidental injury: the need for and adoption of a consensus protocol. Pediatr Radiol [In press]
Royal College of Radiology, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2008) Standards for radiological investigations of suspected non-accidental injury. https://www.rcr.ac.uk/docs/radiology/pdf/RCPCH_RCR_final.pdf. Accessed 4 Aug 2014
Conflicts of interest
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Offiah, A.C., Adamsbaum, C. & van Rijn, R.R. ESPR adopts British guidelines for imaging in suspected non-accidental injury as the European standard. Pediatr Radiol 44, 1338 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-014-3153-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-014-3153-3