Update on shaken baby syndrome: ophthalmology

Shaken baby syndrome is a common problem with a high morbidity and mortality. Ophthalmologists help manage this condition and therefore must keep abreast of current advances.

Clinical updates include the discovery that retinal folds and traumatic retinoschisis can very rarely occur after crush head injury, but remain specific for shaken baby syndrome in other scenarios. Pathology updates include new studies on orbital histology and woodpecker anatomy that suggest the retinal and optic nerve hemorrhages in shaken baby syndrome are caused by shaking itself rather than secondary to intracranial pathology. Regarding this shaking injury, some primary prevention strategies have proven surprisingly effective. In the near future, serum biomarkers may be used as a screening tool for inflicted neurotrauma. Animal models such as the neonatal pig and computer models using finite element analysis are promising experimental techniques for studying shaken baby syndrome. Finally, child abuse recently became an accredited subspecialty of pediatrics, which will lead to further advances in patient care, education, research and prevention.

Ophthalmologists play a key role in the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. In addition, they are in a unique position to study ophthalmic aspects of the syndrome, which in turn furthers the overall understanding of this devastating condition.