Osteogenesis imperfecta: forensic assessment of traumatic injuries. Case report and literature review

A 39 years old male with osteogenesis imperfecta type I presented to an emergency clinic accusing pain and movement limitations in his left arm appeared after a traumatic event. Clinical and radiological examinations revealed a fracture of the distal end of his left humerus, but also an underlying pathologic condition: osteogenesis imperfecta. Osteogenesis imperfecta patients may represent a chalange for forensic evaluation, particularly when trying to differentiate between spontaneous and traumatic fractures. Most of the recent published data regarding osteogenesis imperfecta focused mainly on the association or differential diagnosis with battered children syndrome. The authors review the particularities of adult OI and the possible pitfalls in medical legal interpretation.