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Published on: January 20, 2023
Abusive head trauma: report of 3 cases
Nilgün Demirli Çaylan1, Gonca Yılmaz, Resmiye Oral
1Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ncaylan@hotmail.com
Summary
Abusive head trauma (AHT), or shaken baby syndrome, can cause severe brain injuries in infants. Early recognition of subtle neurological symptoms and retinal hemorrhages is crucial for diagnosis and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Abusive head trauma (AHT), historically known as shaken baby syndrome (SBS), involves violent shaking of infants, leading to intracranial injuries.
- Prompt diagnosis and intervention are critical for improving outcomes in AHT cases.
Observation:
- Three infants presented with varied neurological symptoms: seizures, drowsiness, irritability, and favoring a limb.
- Ophthalmologic examinations consistently revealed retinal hemorrhages (RH).
- Cranial imaging (CT and MRI) demonstrated subdural hematomas (SDH) in different locations.
Findings:
- AHT can manifest with diverse clinical presentations, ranging from subtle to overt neurological signs.
- Retinal hemorrhages and subdural hematomas are key indicators of AHT.
- Multidisciplinary assessment and reporting to Child Protective Services are essential.
Implications:
- Physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for AHT in infants with unexplained neurological symptoms.
- Training healthcare professionals on AHT recognition and management is vital.
- Safety plans involving psychosocial risk assessment and family education can mitigate future risk.
