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Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
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Abusive Head Trauma

Torie Sailer1, Erin Wade2, Lauren Burge2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, TX 78723, USA.

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|May 7, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a severe form of child maltreatment common in infants, presenting diagnostic challenges. This review covers AHT epidemiology, diagnosis, outcomes, and prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Abuse
  • Forensic Medicine

Background:

  • Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a leading cause of death and disability in infants.
  • Diagnosis of AHT is complicated by diverse clinical presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on AHT epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis.
  • To discuss outcomes, prevention strategies, and future research directions for AHT.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on abusive head trauma.
  • Synthesis of information regarding AHT epidemiology, clinical findings, and diagnostic approaches.

Main Results:

  • AHT is most common in the first year of life and carries significant morbidity and mortality.
  • Diagnostic challenges stem from varied presentations of abusive head trauma.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate diagnosis of AHT requires a thorough understanding of its epidemiology and presentation.
  • Further research is needed to improve AHT prevention and identify optimal outcomes.

Keywords:
Abusive head traumaChild abuseChild maltreatment preventionMimics of child abuseNon-accidental traumaShaken baby syndrome

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