Child abuse - physical

The physical signs of child abuse used to be called battered child syndrome. This syndrome referred to multiple fractures in different states of healing. The fractures occurred at different times in children too young to have received the fractures as a result of an accident.

The definition of child abuse has since expanded significantly. Physical child abuse or non-accidental child trauma refers not only to multiple fractures at different ages, but it also includes numerous other signs of injury.

See also:

• Child sexual abuse
• Child psychological abuse and neglect