Retinal and visual function in infants with non-accidental trauma and retinal hemorrhages.

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal function and visual outcomes in infants with retinal hemorrhages due to non-accidental trauma (NAT). METHODS: This is a retrospective review of full-field or multifocal electroretinogram (ERG) recordings, visual acuity in log minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), clinical status, and neuroimaging. Multifocal ERGs from the central 40° were compared to corresponding fundus imaging. Visual acuity was measured by Teller cards at follow-up. ERGs were compared to controls recorded under anesthesia. RESULTS: Sixteen children met inclusion criteria (14 recorded during the acute phase and 2 during long-term follow-up). During the acute phase, ERGs (n = 4 full field; n = 10 multifocal ERG) showed abnormal amplitude, latency, or both in at least one eye. Ten subjects had significantly reduced responses in both eyes, 3 of which had an ERG dominated by a negative waveform (absent b-wave or P1). The remaining six subjects had responses in one eye that were near normal (≥ 50% of controls). ERGs were sometimes abnormal in local areas without hemorrhage. ERGs could be preserved in local areas adjacent to traumatic retinoschisis. Two subjects with reduced visual acuity had belated ERGs: One had an abnormal macular ERG and the other had a normal macular ERG implying cortical visual impairment. At follow-up, 10 of 14 subjects had significant visual acuity loss (≥ 0.7 age-corrected logMAR); four subjects had mild vision loss (≤ 0.5 age-corrected logMAR). Visual acuity outcome was not reliably associated with the fundus appearance in the acute phase. All subjects with a negative ERG waveform had severe vision loss on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal dysfunction was common during the acute phase of NAT. A near normal appearing fundus did not imply normal retinal function, and ERG abnormality did not always predict a poor visual acuity outcome. However, a negative ERG waveform was associated severe visual acuity loss. Potential artifacts of retinal hemorrhages and anesthesia could not fully account for multifocal ERG abnormalities. Retinal function can be preserved in areas adjacent to traumatic retinoschisis.

National study shows that abusive head trauma mortality in Sweden was at least 10 times lower than in other Western countries.

AIM: The validity of the diagnostic criteria for abusive head trauma (AHT) and its attributes has been widely debated. This national study investigated the possibility of false-positive and false-negative cases of fatal AHT in Sweden. METHOD: This was a retrospective evaluation of the records of 733 deceased infants up to the age of 365 days who were examined during 1994-2013 at the six forensic medicine departments. All the records were scrutinised for possible cases of AHT. RESULTS: We included 12 cases, of which eight had been diagnosed as AHT. Of these 12 infants, eight had a concomitant disease or perinatal illness, five were born prematurely and three were twins. Figures from other Western countries would suggest 6-7 deaths per 100,000 per year in Sweden, but in reality, there was a maximum possible incidence of 0.6 per 100,000 infants per year. CONCLUSION: The risk of unreported fatal AHT in Sweden was low, and there may have been cases misdiagnosed as AHT. The at least 10 times lower incidence than has been reported from other Western countries, raises the question if previously reported higher incidences of fatal AHT have been exaggerated.

The role of childhood traumatization in the development of borderline personality disorder in Hungary

Background and Objectives: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting the role of childhood abuse in the etiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD).Studies found that complex traumatization related to BPD include emotional/physical/sexual abuse and neglect. This study examines self-reported experiences of childhood traumatization in Hungarian in patients with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and reveal which etiological factors are most strongly associated with the development of BPD. Methods: Traumatic childhood experiences of 80 borderline inpatients, 73 depressed in patients and 51 healthy controls were assessed with the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire and the Sexual Abuse Scale of Early Trauma Inventory. Results: Adverse childhood experiences (neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing trauma) were more prevalent among borderline patients than among depressed and healthy controls. Borderline patients reported severe sexual abuse, characterized by incest, penetration and repetitive abuse. Sexually abused borderline patients experienced more physical and emotional abuse than borderlines who were not sexually abused. The strongest predictors of borderline diagnosis were sexual abuse, intrafamilial physical abuse and neglect by the caretakers. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that a reported childhood history of abuse and neglect are both common and highly discriminating for borderline patients in Hungaryas well (AU)

[Judicial decisions after reporting cases of shaken baby syndrome. Sentences and compensation]. / Traitement judiciaire des cas de « bébés secoués ¼. Aspects répressifs et indemnitaires.

BACKGROUND: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is defined by the association of intracranial hemorrhage and retinal hemorrhage in infants under 2 years of age, with no obvious external trauma. This syndrome leads to frequent neurological sequelae. Therefore, these infants can claim compensation for damage if sequelae are directly and irrefutably linked to the trauma. Data on the judicial treatment are for the most part inexistent in the medical literature, the reason for which this study was conducted. POPULATION AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study over a period of 10 years. We included all cases of SBS reported to the High Courts of the Ille-et-Vilaine department (Rennes and St Malo). The cases were listed from the archives of the Department of Medical Information, the Specialized Unit for Abused Children and Forensic Department at the Rennes University Hospital. We were able to look the judicial cases up after receiving agreement from the prosecutors of the two courts. RESULTS: Of the 34 cases included, 12 could not be used (lost, ongoing, destroyed, transferred to another court), 16 led to an order of dismissal or to no further action because of an unknown perpetrator, insufficiently described offense, or insufficient evidence. Six authors were sentenced. It was the father (n=5) or the childminder (n=1). All perpetrators had confessed to part or all of the charges brought against them. Five children received compensation: three by the civil court and two by the commission of compensation for victims of an offense. CONCLUSION: Most cases led to no conviction and no compensation. The identification by the physician of the person responsible for the lesions in SBS does not mean that the perpetrator will be convicted because of the strict application of criminal law. The nomination of an administrator representing the infant could resolve the lack of compensation.

Dor abdominal aguda como manifestação de violência física em lactente: alerta aos pediatras / Acute abdominal pain as a manifestation of physical violence in an infant: alert to pediatricians / Dolor abdominal agudo como manifestación de violencia física en lactante: alerta a los pediatras

OBJETIVO: Alertar os pediatras e residentes de Pediatria quanto à possibilidade da ocorrência de violência contra a criança por meio do relato de um caso clínico. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Paciente de 18 meses deu entrada à emergência com dor abdominal e vômitos há 48 horas. O exame abdominal revelou dois orifícios e massa pequena endurecida. O raio X de abdome mostrou imagem compatível com três objetos metálicos. Duas agulhas e um prego sem cabeça foram removidos da cavidade abdominal por meio de laparotomia. COMENTÁRIOS: O diagnóstico foi realizado no segundo atendimento médico, provavelmente por não ter sido aventada a possibilidade de lesão intencional no primeiro. A violência física é um diagnóstico diferencial a ser pensado nos quadros de dor abdominal em crianças. Ressalta-se a importância de aprimorar a formação do residente de Pediatria e dos pediatras em geral para a abordagem da violência contra a criança, de forma que estejam mais preparados para o acionamento da linha de cuidado em situações de violência.

OBJECTIVE: To alert pediatricians and pediatric residents on the possibility of child abuse by reporting a clinical case. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 18 month-old infant was brought to the Emergency Department due to abdominal pain and vomiting for 48 hours. Abdominal examination revealed two holes and a small hardened mass. An abdominal X-ray showed three metallic objects. Two sewing needles and one nail without a head were removed from the abdominal cavity by laparotomy. COMMENTS: Diagnosis was performed in the second medical care, probably because the intentional injury had not been considered in the first visit. Physical violence is a differential diagnosis to be considered in the presence of abdominal pain in children. It is worth noting the importance of improving pediatric resident training, and also of pediatricians in general, in relation to the approach of child abuse, enabling them to use adequate care in cases of violence.

OBJETIVO: Alertar a los pediatras y médicos internos en Pediatría respecto a la posibilidad de ocurrencia de violencia contra el niño por medio del relato de un caso clínico. DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO: Paciente con 18 meses llevado a la emergencia por dolor abdominal y vómitos hace 48 horas. El examen abdominal reveló dos agujeros y masa pequeña endurecida. Rayo-X abdominal mostró imagen compatible con tres objetos metálicos. Dos agujas y un clavo sin cabeza fueron removidos de la cavidad abdominal mediante laparotomía. COMENTARIOS: El diagnóstico se realizó en la segunda atención médica, probablemente por no haber sido aventada la posibilidad de lesión intencional en la primera atención. La violencia física es un diagnóstico diferencial que se debe tener en cuenta en los cuadros de dolor abdominal en niños. Se subraya la importancia de perfeccionar la formación del médico interno en Pediatría y de los pediatras en general para el acercamiento a la violencia contra el niño, para que estén más preparados para accionar la línea de cuidados en situaciones de violencia.

Desnutrición como signo de alarma de maltrato físico / Malnutrition as alarm sign of physical abuse

En el síndrome del niño zarandeado se describe la coincidencia de hematoma subdural, hemorragias retinianas y daño cerebral difuso con pronóstico desfavorable , debido a las sacudidas del bebé. Los síntomas clínicos incluyen irritabilidad, somnolencia, apatía, calambres, ataques cerebrales, apnea, trastornos de la regulación de temperatura y vómitos debido a la presión intercraneal. Los síntomas más leves del síndrome del niño zarandeado a menudo no son diagnosticados y el número de casos no registrados es, probablemente mucho mayor. El diagnóstico del síndrome del niño zarandeado se hace a través de la coincidencia de síntomas típicos, pero la falta de hemorragia retiniana no excluye el diagnóstico. El mecanismo que se considera perjudicial son las fuerzas de rotación que comprimen las capas de tejido cerebral, unas contra otras, y rompen las venas que comunican cráneo y cerebro . Presentamos el caso de un lactante con desnutrición y hallazgos posteriores compatibles con síndrome de niño zarandeado (AU)

Shaken baby syndrome describes the coincidence of subdural hematoma, retinal bleeding and, disadvantageous for the prognosis, diffuse brain damage caused by powerful shaking of the infant. The clinical sympotoms include irritability , somnolence, apathy , cerebral attacks, apnoea, temperature regulation disorders and vomiting due to cranial pressure. Milder symptoms of shaken baby syndrome are often not diagnosed and the number of unregistered cases is probably much grater. The diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is made through the typical symptom constellation, but the lack of retinal bleeding does not exclude the diagnosis. The injurious mechanism is considered to be caused by rotational forces which force tissue layers in the brain against each other and also lead to rupture of bridging veins between the skull and the brain. We report a case of an infant with malnutrition and shaken baby syndrome (AU)

"Benign" shaken baby syndrome. Case report

The authors report an infant with clinical and neuroimaging findings of shaken baby syndrome. The pitfalls encountered in the assessment on the cause of the bilateral frontal and interhemispheric subdural hematomas in this child are also briefly discussed. We have called this condition "benign" shaken baby syndrome and emphasize that not always acute subdural hematomas are of non-accidental nature

Los autores describen un lactante con hallazgos clínicos y de neuroimagen sugestivos del síndrome del niño maltratado. Se discuten brevemente las dificultades para la identificación de la causa del hematomasubdural agudo frontal bilateral e interhemisférico que el niño presentaba. Hemos denominado a esta entidad síndrome "benigno" del niño maltratado para destacar que el hallazgo de un hematoma subdural agudo en un niño pequeño no significa necesariamente maltrato infantil

Why do histology on retinal haemorrhages in suspected non-accidental injury?

The detailed documentation of ocular pathology has become an important component in the autopsy investigation of suspected cases of non-accidental injury in infants and young children. Careful histological examination of retinal haemorrhages is of critical importance, but there remains debate about the significance of some findings. This issue has been thrown into sharper relief by recent neuropathological studies questioning the mechanisms of some CNS findings. To discuss the importance of histological findings in the retina and their potential significance and specificity, we have invited contributions from authors in the USA and UK.

Child abuse victims' involvement in community agency treatment: service correlates, short-term outcomes, and relationship to reabuse.

This study examines the correlates and impacts of child treatment in 68 cases referred to community agency providers after reports of child physical or sexual abuse. Standardized clinical assessments were conducted with child victims and their caregivers at intake and short-term follow-up (FUP-1), supplemented by official record reviews at a long-term follow-up (FUP-2). Child treatment was received by 19% and 50% of the children at FUP-1 and FUP-2, respectively. There were few correlates of initial child treatment involvement (sexual abuse or parent and family services received concurrently). Initial child treatment was not associated with significant gains in child outcomes. Child improvement in abuse-related outcomes was associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and lower adjustment at intake. Initial child treatment was unrelated to reabuse or out-of-home placement by FUP-2. Additional studies are needed to more fully evaluate the process and outcome of referral of child abuse victims to community-based services.

Conductas suicidas en adolescentes según diagnóstico psiquiátrico y factores de riesgo / Adolescent suicidal behaviour, psychiatric diagnosis and risk factors

Se realiza un estudio estadístico de 71 enfermos adolescentes ingresados por conductas suicidas. El análisis descriptivo de esta muestra está publicado en un trabajo anterior. Los factores de riesgo de las conductas suicidas se evalúan de acuerdo con trabajos internacionales y se encuentra una alta proporción de retraso escolar, antecedentes familiares de enfermedad psiquiátrica, antecedentes familiares de intento de suicidio y procedencia de familias no estructuradas. El estudio de asociaciones significativas por el método de Chi cuadrado y el análisis de regresión logística indica la presencia de dos grupos de enfermos. Uno caracterizado por la gravedad del intento, sexo masculino y diagnóstico de trastorno depresivo y otro grupo caracterizado por la levedad del intento, predominio en mujeres y diagnósticos asociados de trastorno de conducta y anorexia nerviosa purgativa. Este último grupo tiende a la repetición del intento suicida. La identificación precoz de estas patologías podría llevar a un mejor tratamiento de las conductas suicidas en adolescentes (AU)

[Retinal hemorrhages as a case for shaking trauma. Case report]. / Wylewy krwawe w siatkówkach jako istotny dowód wskazujacy na okolicznosci ich powstania.

An interesting shaking trauma case was reported. A detailed analysis of the pattern of injuries and their progress allowed to reconstruct the mechanism and time point of cerebral lesions in a 6 week old infant who survived the impact. The necessity of postmortem investigation of the fundus and cranial nerves in fatal cases of shaking trauma is stressed.

Correlation between retinal abnormalities and intracranial abnormalities in the shaken baby syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report correlation between retinal and intracranial abnormalities and to evaluate pathogenesis of retinal hemorrhages in the shaken baby syndrome (SBS). DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Seventy-five children with apparent nonaccidental head trauma consistent with SBS had complete physical examination, complete ophthalmologic examination, neuroimaging by CT or MRI, or both, and skeletal radiographic survey. In this retrospective review, ophthalmoscopic and intracranial abnormalities were correlated. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 2 to 48 months (mean - SD, 10.6 +/- 10.4 months). Neuroimaging was abnormal in all 75 cases. Findings included subdural hematoma (70 children, 93%), cerebral edema (33 children, 44%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (12 children, 16%), vascular infarction (nine children, 12%), intraparenchymal blood (six children, 8%), parenchymal contusion (six children, 8%), and epidural hemorrhage (one child, 1%). Sixty-four (64/75, 85%) children had retinal abnormalities, mostly (53/64, 82%) confluent multiple hemorrhages that were subretinal, intraretinal, and preretinal in 47/64 (74%) and bilateral in 52/64 (81%). No association was found between anatomic site (left, right, or bilateral) of intracranial and retinal findings (McNemar test kappa = -0.026-0.106) or between any of the intracranial findings mentioned above and the following retinal findings: normal or abnormal retinal examination, multiple (>10) or few retinal hemorrhages (< or =10), symmetric or asymmetric retinal findings, or retinoschisis (kappa = -0.127-0.104). Signs of possible increased intracranial pressure were not correlated with any retinal abnormality (kappa = -0.03-0.073). There was no correlation between evidence of impact trauma to the head and retinal hemorrhages (kappa = 0.058). Total Cranial Trauma Score and Total Retinal Hemorrhage Score, both indicating the severity of injury, were correlated (P =.032). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports previous observations that the severity of retinal and intracranial injury is correlated in SBS. We cannot support the suggestions that in most children with SBS retinal bleeding is caused by sustained elevated intracranial, elevated intrathoracic pressure, direct tracking of blood from the intracranial space, or direct impact trauma. The correlation in severity of both eye and head findings may suggest, however, that retinal abnormalities are the result of mechanical shaking forces.