The aspect of trauma in the bone changes of congenital lues.

A prospective study of 112 children with syphilis showed changes more typical of trauma in 35 children than the usual radiographic findings ascribed to congenital lues. No similar changes were present in a control group. 'Battering' as such seems to be excluded, but the survey suggests luetic bones are more fragile, and part of luetic bone disease is traumatic in origin.