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Small bowel perforation and fatal peritonitis following a fall in a 21-month-old child

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Abstract

The authors report a case of fatal peritonitis due to small bowel perforation in a 21-month-old female child. Necropsy excluded natural disease and a thorough Coronial investigation concluded that an accidental fall onto a “doorstop” caused the bowel injury. The investigative findings are presented; the discussion address issues of diagnosis and causation/mechanism of injury.

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Acknowledgment

We are grateful to HM Coroner and the parents of the deceased for permission to report this case.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wales Institute of Forensic Medicine, Cardiff University College of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Andrew M. Davison

  2. Department of Pathology, Cardiff University College of Medicine, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Edgar J. Lazda

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  1. Andrew M. Davison
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  2. Edgar J. Lazda
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Correspondence to Andrew M. Davison.

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Davison, A.M., Lazda, E.J. Small bowel perforation and fatal peritonitis following a fall in a 21-month-old child. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 4, 250–254 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9041-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-008-9041-0

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