Forearm Fractures Present Unique Opportunity for Radiologists to Help Break Cycle of Domestic Violence

Up to one-third of adult women treated for isolated ulnar fractures may be victims of domestic violence, presenting a unique opportunity for radiologists to interrupt the cycle of abuse.

Imaging experts from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and several other institutions recently took a closer look at this issue, studying patient data from a nearly 15-year period. The numbers were small—with only 62 patients treated for forearm fractures between 2005 and 2019—but scientists say the data provide important insights.

“Knowledge of isolated ulnar fracture, especially nondisplaced, as a marker of [intimate partner violence] can enable radiologists to play a critical role by reviewing previous radiological studies and providing early identification of IPV for timely intervention to make the ‘invisible’ visible,” Bharti Khurana, MD, founder and director of the hospital’s Trauma Imaging Research and Innovation Center, wrote April 3 in JACR.

Source: RADIOLOGY BUSINESS