A 7-year-old with fractures on multiple long bones in various stages of healing is most likely to have which underlying cause suspected by the nurse?

A 7-year-old with fractures on multiple long bones in various stages of healing is most likely to have which underlying cause suspected by the nurse?

• A. Child abuse
• B. Osteogenesis imperfecta
• C. Osteoporosis
• D. Nutritional deficiency

Answer: (A)

When a child has fractures on multiple long bones in different stages of healing, it signals injuries that occurred over time rather than a single accident. That repeated pattern is a strong red flag for nonaccidental trauma, so the nurse would suspect child abuse. Osteogenesis imperfecta can cause multiple fractures, but typically there are other signs of a congenital bone fragility and often a relevant history or family history and sometimes visible signs like blue sclerae or dental problems. Osteoporosis in a 7-year-old is very uncommon and usually tied to another medical issue or condition. Nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin D deficiency or rickets can weaken bones, but they usually present with bone deformities, growth problems, or lab abnormalities rather than a clean pattern of many fractures at different healing stages.

When a child has fractures on multiple long bones in different stages of healing, it signals injuries that occurred over time rather than a single accident. That repeated pattern is a strong red flag for nonaccidental trauma, so the nurse would suspect child abuse.

Osteogenesis imperfecta can cause multiple fractures, but typically there are other signs of a congenital bone fragility and often a relevant history or family history and sometimes visible signs like blue sclerae or dental problems. Osteoporosis in a 7-year-old is very uncommon and usually tied to another medical issue or condition. Nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin D deficiency or rickets can weaken bones, but they usually present with bone deformities, growth problems, or lab abnormalities rather than a clean pattern of many fractures at different healing stages.