Introduction

Perineal injury in children is uncommon and can be due to blunt trauma, impalement, accidental falls and child abuse. Blunt perineal injury can be attributed to compression of soft tissue against the boney pelvis causing severe injury and accounts for eight to 10% of all perineal injuries [1][2][3]. Accidental injuries occur when the child falls on or straddles a sharp or blunt object and sustains a bruise, contusion, laceration or penetration depending on the height of the fall and the object straddled or impaled. Accidental falls involve the external genitalia, urethra, perineal body, labia, anus and rarely the rectum. Pediatric sexual abuse cases usually involve isolated injuries involving the rectum or vagina. Impalement injuries are very uncommon and are due to accidental falls or child abuse [4][5]. Sexual abuse and firearm trauma are the most common reported causes of anorectal trauma in developed countries while motor vehicle collisions only account for 10% of cases. Anorectal trauma is almost twice as common in boys as girls [2].

see also Anorectal Repair for Trauma