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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
10:34

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Published on: August 30, 2020

Intracranial vertebral artery dissection with subarachnoid hemorrhage following child abuse

Pamela H Nguyen1, Delilah M Burrowes, Saad Ali

  • 1Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.

Pediatric Radiology
|April 25, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Child abuse can cause rare intracranial vertebral artery dissection and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in infants. Physicians should consider child abuse with these specific injury patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Forensic Medicine

Background:

  • Child abuse is a significant concern in pediatrics, often identified through specific injury patterns.
  • Intracranial vertebral artery dissection and subarachnoid hemorrhage are serious, though less common, manifestations.

Observation:

  • A rare case of intracranial vertebral artery dissection with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a 3-month-old infant is presented.
  • The injury occurred in the context of confirmed child abuse.

Findings:

  • The study details the specific injury mechanisms, clinical presentation, and imaging findings associated with this rare presentation of abuse.
  • This pattern of injury is infrequently reported in child abuse literature.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering child abuse in infants presenting with intracranial vertebral artery dissection and SAH.
  • Aims to increase physician awareness and diagnostic vigilance for non-accidental trauma presenting with these neurological findings.

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