25-OH Vitamin D Deficiency Does Not Significantly Predispose Young Children to Multiple Fractures From Minimal Trauma

jpedsurg.org

In the absence of significant accidental trauma, the identification of multiple fractures in a young child raises concern for abuse. One group has suggested that there is an unrecognized “epidemic” of 25-OH vitamin D deficiency that produces findings frequently mistaken for child abuse.

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Article · Mar 2025 · 1 min read

In brief

This article examines whether 25-OH vitamin D deficiency causes multiple fractures from minimal trauma in young children, addressing claims that deficiency is commonly misdiagnosed as child abuse. The work provides critical guidance for clinicians evaluating unexplained skeletal injuries in pediatric patients.

Multiple fractures in young children without significant trauma should raise concern for abuse, not be dismissed as vitamin D deficiency.
Claims of an 'epidemic' of vitamin D deficiency causing abuse-like fractures lack robust evidence in pediatric populations.
Vitamin D deficiency alone does not typically cause multiple fractures from minimal trauma in otherwise healthy young children.
Child protection teams should not attribute unexplained fractures to vitamin D deficiency without thorough abuse evaluation.
Proper differential diagnosis requires distinguishing metabolic bone disease from non-accidental trauma through clinical assessment.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.

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