Self-inflicted long bone fractures for insurance fraud

Int J Legal Med. 2019 Jul;133(4):1083-1088. doi: 10.1007/s00414-018-1884-7. Epub 2018 Jun 26.

Abstract

Self-inflicted fractures simulating traffic accident represent a new social fraud opportunity for criminality. Recognising scams through an increase of awareness of existence of self-inflicted arm fractures for insurance fraud could help community health workers to report these injuries to the competent authorities. In this article, authors have recognised an unusual but consistent pattern of upper and lower limb fractures whose incidence does not coincide in numerical terms with what is reported in literature. The aim of the present study is to describe fracture patterns observed over the past 2 years. Further, authors describe clinical presentations of these fractures and attempt to define a possible mechanism of these types of injuries.

Keywords: Forensic radiology; Insurance fraud; Long bone fractures; Self-inflicted injuries.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Forensic Medicine / organization & administration
  • Fractures, Bone / diagnosis*
  • Fraud / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Accident / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / diagnosis*