[The battered child syndrome: neurologic aspects in 7 cases]

Data on 7 cases of battered child syndrome with neurological complications are reviewed. First symptoms were convulsions and bulged fontanel of undetermined origin. At clinical examination the unexpected presence of retinal hemorrhage in 5/7 patients has been the main criteria to diagnostic definition. CT showed the presence of subdural collections in the majority of the patients. A normal CT, however, does not display the possibility of future problems. Successive CT studies have proved useful. In two cases they demonstrated the appearance of diffuse images of central nervous system destruction some weeks later, and probably related to ischaemic troubles in connection with the aggression mechanisms.