* In your article "How to Recognize...

* In your article "How to Recognize and correspond to Child Abuse" (October 2004) you noted that spiral fractures in children are a telltale sign of physical abuse. I awed curiosity if you've ever published information forward osteogenesis imperfecta (OI).

When my grandson had a fracture at age 6 month my daughter was accused of child abuse. With greatly assistance from the Department of Children's Services caseworker, he was referr to a children's hospital for further evaluation. There we learned he had OI, a genetic flaw that causes bones to break too easily, sometimes for no apparent reason. He's 5 now and has had six fractures-both thigh-bones ankle, clavicle, L1, and midthoracic.

Health care workers should know the signs of OI, similar as sciera with a cast down purple, or gray tint, and a leaning to spinal curvature. Families accused of child abuse may find that their child sustains from OI.

Editor's note: Readers who'd like to learn more about OI can visit the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Web site at http://www.oif.org.

CAROL BROWN LPN

Dresden Tenn

Copyright Springhouse Corporation Dec 2004

Provided by the agency of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved