Sentinel Injuries

Definitions

Define

Sentinel injuries are medically minor injuries that are suspicious for child physical abuse.

Cite

This term was coined by Dr. Lynn Sheets at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Identify

In 2013 the term referred to bruises, intraoral injuries and “other injuries,” including fractures. The "other” category now also includes subconjunctival hemorrhages.

References

Sheets et al 2013
Harper et al 2014
Lindberg et al 2015
Henry & Wood 2021

CHAMP Education for Child Abuse Medical Providers

Accessible Version

On this slide, you'll see the most succinct definition of essential injury. They are medically minor injuries that are suspicious for child physical abuse. In future slides, we'll discuss this topic more. This term was coined by Dr. Lynn Sheets at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and she coined this term in a publication from 2013. When she referred to injuries such as bruises. Intraoral injuries and other injuries, including fractures over the years since then, the other category now also includes subconjunctival hemorrhages and other people, as you can see in other groups, you can see in the references have also Published on this topic since then.