Non-accidental injury

Child abuse, NAI, is common and includes a spectrum of disorders. It is by far the most common cause of inexplicable fractures in infancy. The identification of other causes where the skeleton is abnormally fragile include the diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta. Most mistaken diagnoses arise from clinical ignorance. Investigation for collagen synthetic defects is only necessary where clinical doubt exists. The existence of a syndrome of temporary brittle bone disease has yet to be firmly established.