Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking
Abstract Objectives This study aims to determine whether intracranial injuries, such as seizures, encephalopathy, bilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), and severe bilateral retinal hemorrhage (RH), are indicators of abusive head trauma (AHT), particularly in cases involving shaking. Methods Data compri...
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Wiley
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Annals of the Child Neurology Society |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20084 |
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| author | Chris Brook |
| author_facet | Chris Brook |
| author_sort | Chris Brook |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives This study aims to determine whether intracranial injuries, such as seizures, encephalopathy, bilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), and severe bilateral retinal hemorrhage (RH), are indicators of abusive head trauma (AHT), particularly in cases involving shaking. Methods Data comprising 54 witnessed shaking cases were drawn from two studies in the literature. Data of 100 witnessed accidents comes from the pediBIRN collaboration. Rates of intracranial injuries in cases of unconflicted witnessed accidents are compared to rates in cases of witnessed shaking and also to cases of unconflicted witnessed shaking. Unconflicted is defined as observed by an independent, unbiased witness, or by a potentially biased witness (such as partner) if reported prior to medical examinations. Results When all witnessed shaking cases were considered, including potentially biased witnesses, there are higher rates of findings commonly associated with AHT in witnessed accidents than in cases of witnessed shaking, although the difference is only statistically significant for seizures and encephalopathy. When restricted to cases when the witness was unconflicted, the rates of all findings are significantly more common in accidents than in shaking. Interpretation Accidents result in more severe intracranial pathologies than shaking, aligning with biomechanical studies that have shown that impact exerts greater force on the brain than violent shaking. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6677583da5343dbaba9fda90fc4bdf0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2831-3267 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of the Child Neurology Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6677583da5343dbaba9fda90fc4bdf02025-08-20T02:16:56ZengWileyAnnals of the Child Neurology Society2831-32672024-09-012320621110.1002/cns3.20084Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shakingChris Brook0Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Faculty of Science La Laguna Santa Cruz de Tenerife SpainAbstract Objectives This study aims to determine whether intracranial injuries, such as seizures, encephalopathy, bilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), and severe bilateral retinal hemorrhage (RH), are indicators of abusive head trauma (AHT), particularly in cases involving shaking. Methods Data comprising 54 witnessed shaking cases were drawn from two studies in the literature. Data of 100 witnessed accidents comes from the pediBIRN collaboration. Rates of intracranial injuries in cases of unconflicted witnessed accidents are compared to rates in cases of witnessed shaking and also to cases of unconflicted witnessed shaking. Unconflicted is defined as observed by an independent, unbiased witness, or by a potentially biased witness (such as partner) if reported prior to medical examinations. Results When all witnessed shaking cases were considered, including potentially biased witnesses, there are higher rates of findings commonly associated with AHT in witnessed accidents than in cases of witnessed shaking, although the difference is only statistically significant for seizures and encephalopathy. When restricted to cases when the witness was unconflicted, the rates of all findings are significantly more common in accidents than in shaking. Interpretation Accidents result in more severe intracranial pathologies than shaking, aligning with biomechanical studies that have shown that impact exerts greater force on the brain than violent shaking.https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20084abusive head traumadiagnosisevidence‐based medicineshaken baby syndrome |
| spellingShingle | Chris Brook Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking Annals of the Child Neurology Society abusive head trauma diagnosis evidence‐based medicine shaken baby syndrome |
| title | Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking |
| title_full | Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking |
| title_fullStr | Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking |
| title_full_unstemmed | Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking |
| title_short | Witnessing abusive head trauma: Accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking |
| title_sort | witnessing abusive head trauma accidents show higher rates of intracranial pathologies than shaking |
| topic | abusive head trauma diagnosis evidence‐based medicine shaken baby syndrome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20084 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chrisbrook witnessingabusiveheadtraumaaccidentsshowhigherratesofintracranialpathologiesthanshaking |