The Clinical and Radiological Examination of Acute Intimate Partner Violence Injuries: A Retrospective Analysis of an Italian Cohort of Women

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most frequent type of violence against women. We compared clinical and radiological IPV characteristics to stranger assault (SA). Methods: We retrospectively identified 123 women with IPV from court reports and matched them to 124 SA. Clinical and radiological characteristics were evaluated by testing their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for IPV, and the strength of their association with IPV. Results: IPV women referred with more delay to the emergency department (ED), had more ED accesses, and showed more mismatch between reports to the triage and disclosures to the ED physician. They also displayed more head, neck, and face injuries, and new-plus-old fractures. Conclusion: The identification of specific features may help ED physicians to suspect IPV.