U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Differentiating Abuse from Accident in Young Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Biomechanical Assessment of Fracture Risk
Award Information
Awardee
              UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Award #
              2019-R2-CX-0038
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    LOUISVILLE, KY
Congressional District
              3
Status
              Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
              2019
Total funding (to date)
              $142,957
Original Solicitation
              Graduate Research Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, FY 2019
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2019, $142,957)
Fractures are common in children, resulting from both accidents and physical abuse. Distinguishing between injuries that are accidental or non-accidental in nature is crucial in determining whether a child abuse investigation is warranted and whether removing a child from their home is needed. If not removed, an abused child could incur further injuries or even death if abuse was missed. Making the distinction between accident and abuse can be further complicated in children with bone disorders such as osteogenesis imperfecta (01), a genetic bone fragility disease, which can lead to many more fractures in childhood compared to healthy children. For instance, femur fractures are both a common indication for suspicion of abuse and a common fracture site for those with 01. In medico-legal cases involving child abuse, an on-going controversy is whether multiple fractures in children are attributed to bone disorders, such as 01, or abuse. A rigorous biomechanical analysis can help to address this controversy through determining compatibility of history, fracture characteristics, and bone health status which is critical to assure accuracy in clinical and forensic decision making. The field is currently lacking an assessment of biomechanical compatibility of fracture with common activities in infants and toddlers, a particularly vulnerable population for abusive fractures. The goal of this project is to characterize the risk of fracture in young children with 01 compared to that of healthy children when exposed to loading associated with common activities (e.g. walking and jumping). First, motion analysis of gait and jumping in young children (aged 8-24 months old) will be conducted to characterize joint loading applied to the femur, a common fracture location in children with 01. The femur loading will then be applied to 3D computer models of healthy femurs and those affected by 01 to determine fracture risk associated with walking. Femur models will be derived from imaging of healthy bone and bone affected by 01 collected as a part of a previous study. A previously developed statistical shape model of healthy infant femurs will be used to provide age-matched controls to the 01 femur models. Fracture risk will be determined using finite element analysis applied to the 3D computer models of the healthy femur and femur affected by 01 due to common activities, such as walking.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14). CA/NCF



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Development of a model to predict 3D femur morphology in infants and young children

  
Date Created: September 13, 2019
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Comparison of Examiner Conclusions with Score-based Likelihood Ratios for Cartridge Case Evidence
                  Developing a Portable and Fast Opioid Assessment Tool for Improved Field Decision-Making
                  Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Advance Transformative Credible Messenger Mentoring for Justice-Involved Youth of Color
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov