Low Dose Whole Body Computed Tomography for Fracture Detection in Infants Suspected of Sustaining Non-Accidental Injuries

Non-accidental injury (NAI) in infants remains a signi cant problem in society. Bone fractures identi ed in infants suggests the child has undergone a signi cant force but can be di cult to detect. Current recommendations from radiological societies advocate for two radiographic skeletal surveys (SS), performed two weeks apart for assessing infants suspected of NAI. This is because radiographs regularly miss fractures in the acute stage of healing. The primary aim of this thesis is to explore the clinical feasibility of employing low-dose whole-body Computed Tomography Skeletal Surveys (CT-SS) as a potential alternative to conventional imaging methods for investigation of infants suspected NAI. Evaluating whether CT-SS can serve as a viable alternative involves considering patient radiation dose, fracture detectability, and clinical utility. This thesis delves into each of these aspects through a series of phantom and clinical studies.