Non-accidental injury [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Non-accidental injury ======


**Non-accidental [[injury]] (NAI)** refers to physical harm or trauma that is **deliberately inflicted**, rather than caused by an accident. It is most commonly used in the context of **child protection**, but it can apply to vulnerable adults as well.

### Key points about NAI:

- **Cause**: Usually results from **abuse**, such as hitting, shaking, burning, or other intentional acts.
- **Common in**: Infants and young children, who may be unable to explain what happened.
- **Signs** may include:
  - Injuries inconsistent with the explanation given.
  - Multiple injuries in different stages of healing.
  - Unusual bruising patterns (e.g. fingertip marks, belt marks).
  - Fractures, especially spiral or rib fractures in infants.
  - Retinal hemorrhages (in cases of shaken baby syndrome).
- **Assessment** involves:
  - Thorough history and physical exam.
  - Imaging (X-rays, CT, MRI).
  - Multidisciplinary evaluation, often including social services and safeguarding teams.

### Terminology:
In some countries, terms like **“non-accidental trauma (NAT)”** or simply **“suspected abuse”** may be used interchangeably.