Mimic for Child Physical Abuse: Biochemical and Genetic Evidence of Hypophosphatasia without Classic Radiologic Findings

Abstract

Infants presenting with multiple fractures without a plausible accident history need to be evaluated for child abuse or underlying predisposing conditions such as osteogenesis imperfecta and hypophosphatasia. We present a case of infantile hypophosphatasia with multiple unexplained fractures but otherwise normal radiographs in the setting of biochemical and genetic evidence of hypophosphatasia. Standard screening tests for hypophosphatasia include serum alkaline phosphatase level and genetic testing. Despite the presented case’s positive biochemical and genetic testing, the case did not have any other radiologic finding suggesting infantile hypophosphatasia, such as severe bone mineralization deficits and rickets. While patients with hypophosphatasia can have increased bone fragility, this has been reported in the context of radiologic abnormalities of the skeleton. Thus, this case is potentially the first reported infantile hypophosphatasia case presenting with no findings of rickets on radiographs, raising concern that the fractures and especially the radius head dislocation might be due to physical abuse.