A suspected case of shaken baby syndrome-clinical management in Germany: a case-based overview.

PURPOSE: Each year, between 100 and 200 cases with shaken baby syndrome (SBS) are hospitalized in Germany. The reported incidence is 14 in 100,000 children. About 10 to 30% of the affected children do not survive. A high number of unreported cases are assumed. The rate of lifelong disability is high. The current situation in respect of abusive head injuries in infants has been investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-based overview on the management of SBS in a German reference center for pediatric neurosurgery is presented and discussed against the background of forensic data and child protection network institutions and guidelines. RESULTS: The presented case is an example of a typical SBS presentation. All necessary diagnostic and therapeutic steps are explained and evaluated according to the existing guidelines in Germany. The authors state that hospital SOP can help to detect suspected cases of SBS and define the role of the pediatric neurosurgeon. Although the abusive mechanism of a head trauma is clear in most cases, forensic methods lack the precision to identify a perpetrator in all of them. According to an analysis of a multi-center study on criminal proceedings in Germany, 50% of the proceedings were closed without judgment due to lack of suspicion. Out of the remaining half with judgment, in 17%, the court decided on acquittal since the perpetration could not be assigned to a specific individual. CONCLUSION: Prevention is the most important factor to protect children from death and disability caused by inflicted brain injury. Pediatric healthcare professionals must be aware of typical signs of suspected child abuse, SBS in particular, and institutional SOP can help to improve management and outcome in these children. Forensic methods lack the precision to identify a perpetrator in every case.

[Hospital management of the child victim of non-accidental head injury]. / Prise en charge hospitalière de l'enfant victime de traumatisme crânien non accidentel.

The baby victim of a shock is not always diagnosed at the time of his first visit to the emergency room. The recommendation for good practice in situations of shaken baby syndrome, published in July 2017 by the French National Authority for Health, helps in the diagnosis and management of these infants by health care providers. When this diagnosis is made, the baby's care pathway is generally long and punctuated by multiple examinations.

Understanding Abusive Head Trauma: A Primer for the General Pediatrician.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) refers to a well-recognized constellation of injuries caused by the direct application of force to an infant or young child, resulting in trauma to the head, intracranial contents, and/or neck, with potentially devastating health outcomes. Mechanisms of AHT include impulsive injurious acts, such as violent shaking and impact, often due to caregiver frustration or exhaustion. Subdural and retinal hemorrhage, and associated extracranial injury (fractures, abdominal trauma), are common. Suspected victims require laboratory/diagnostic testing and occult injury screening, as well as protective measures by investigative authorities to ensure safety. Medicolegal controversies persist around AHT diagnosis, including alternative hypotheses proffered in court by skeptics despite advances in scientific understanding, biomechanical research, neuroimaging techniques, and perpetrator confessions. Pediatricians play a key role in prevention and reduction of AHT morbidity and mortality through anticipatory guidance and caregiver education about the risks of shaking, normal infant development and behavior, and encouragement of stress reduction strategies. [Pediatr Ann. 2020;49(8):e347-e353.].

Abusive head trauma: evidence, obfuscation, and informed management.

Abusive head trauma remains the major cause of serious head injury in infants and young children. A great deal of research has been undertaken to inform the recognition, evaluation, differential diagnosis, management, and legal interventions when children present with findings suggestive of inflicted injury. This paper reviews the evolution of current practices and controversies, both with respect to medical management and to etiological determination of the variable constellations of signs, symptoms, and radiological findings that characterize young injured children presenting for neurosurgical care.

The medical and social outcome in 2016 of infants who were victims of shaken baby syndrome between 2005 and 2013.

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies that have investigated the long-term outcome of children who have been victims of shaken baby syndrome (SBS). However, the consequences appear to be significant and the data available from a social point of view are scarce. The main objective of this study was to define the medical and social outcome in 2016 of the infants who were victims of SBS and admitted to one of the Marseille university hospitals. The number of patients followed by a specialized team was evaluated along with their clinical state, living conditions, and whether a social support system such as the Child welfare system had been put into place. METHOD: The study was retrospective and descriptive. Patients under 1 year of age who were hospitalized between January 2005 and December 2013 and manifested clinical and paraclinical characteristics enabling the diagnosis of SBS were included in the study. The diagnosis was certain, probable, or possible according to the definitions given by the consensus of the 2011 shaken baby health authority conference (HAS). RESULTS: Eighty babies qualified for the study, three of whom died in intensive care. Only ten of these patients (12.9%) had regular (annual) neuropediatric check-up during the whole study period. Thirty-seven patients (48%) had an annual neuropediatric check-up during the first 2 years only following the diagnosis. Only 12 of the children (15.6%) were still being followed after the age of 6. The children were followed up on average for 2.5 years (29.6 months). In 24 cases (31%), the last medical visit revealed an abnormal neurological examination including multiple disabilities due to spastic quadriplegia and severe intellectual deficit, which led to total dependency in half of these cases. Forty-four patients (57%) had a normal neurological examination. Concerning the babies' social outcome, 50 patients (64.9%) had returned home, 12 (15.6%) benefited, from educational assistance at the patient's home (AEMO) following the ruling of a children's judge, and 19 (24.7%) were still placed in foster care (ASE). The average foster care placement lasted 34.7 months. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Long-term medical follow-up for children having sustained serious head injury as a result of abuse is inadequate. Sequelae such as multiple disabilities are less frequent than described in the literature. According to this study, a longer-term follow-up is necessary for children suffering from sequelae such as learning disabilities than what is actually possible in our center.

[Trauma craneal no accidental en niños: costo económico directo de la atención médica en un hospital de tercer nivel].

INTRODUCTION: Abusive head trauma (AHT) is an extreme form of physical abuse that is produced by abruptly shaking an infant or toddler. OBJECTIVE: To describe the direct economic cost of care during hospitalization of 14 children with confirmed diagnosis of AHT in a pediatric hospital. METHOD: Analysis of the cost of disease in patients with AHT attended to between 2001 and 2010. Partial direct economic cost of medical care (days of hospital stay, laboratory tests and imaging studies, surgical procedures and subspecialist consultations) was calculated adjusting for inflation, with year 2001 taken as base year. Patients were classified in three groups (moderate, severe and fatal AHT). Descriptive and sensitivity analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Patients with severe AHT generated higher medical care costs ($105,794.88 ± 33,201.91) in comparison with the group of moderate ($37,012.95, ± 7,154.87) and fatal AHT ($18,595.04 ± 6424.47) (p <0.05). Total cost was $665,467.98 Mexican pesos ($71,249.25 international dollars). CONCLUSIONS: Total cost for the 14 patients was an elevated figure, as in other parts of the world. The direct economic cost is closely related to the severity of the clinical presentation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El trauma craneal no accidental (TCNA) es una forma extrema de abuso físico que se produce por la sacudida brusca de un lactante o preescolar. OBJETIVO: Describir el costo económico directo de la atención durante la hospitalización de 14 niños con diagnóstico confirmado de TCNA en un hospital pediátrico. MÉTODO: Análisis del costo de la enfermedad en pacientes con TCNA, atendidos entre 2001 y 2010. Se realizó análisis descriptivo y de sensibilidad. Se calculó costo económico directo parcial de la atención médica (días de estancia hospitalaria, exámenes de laboratorio y gabinete, procedimientos quirúrgicos y consultas por subespecialista), ajustado por la inflación, se tomó como año base 2001. Los pacientes se clasificaron en tres grupos: TCNA moderado, severo y fatal. RESULTADOS: Los pacientes con TCNA severo generaron mayor costo en la atención médica ($105 794.88 ± 33 201.91), en comparación con el grupo con TCNA moderado ($37 012.95 ± 7154.87) y fatal ($18 595.04 ± 6424.47) (p < 0.05). El costo total fue de 665 467.98 pesos mexicanos (71 249.25 dólares internacionales). CONCLUSIONES: El costo total de los 14 pacientes fue una cifra elevada como en otras partes del mundo. El costo económico directo se relaciona estrechamente con la gravedad del cuadro clínico.

Shaken Baby Syndrome: a review.

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs in infants as a result of the brain pushing against the skull due to severe acceleration-deceleration forces. Symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome include subdural, subarachnoid, and retinal hemorrhages. MRI and ocular examinations are used to determine the extent of mental and visual damage and ß-amyloid precursor protein immunohistochemical staining is used to detect axonal injuries. Surgeries such as Subdural hemorrhage (SDH) evacuation surgery and the Burr hole craniotomy are used to treat Shaken Baby Syndrome; however, the prognosis is poor in many cases. Because of the severity of Shaken Baby Syndrome and its traumatic and sometimes fatal effects, it is important to educate new parents, nurses, and doctors on the syndrome in order to prevent incidents.

Still an unknown topic: child abuse and "shaken baby syndrome".

BACKGROUND: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a severe form of physical child abuse, and can even cause death. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether or not the primary healthcare workers had received any education regarding child abuse and neglect, whether they could diagnose the cases, whether they had sufficient knowledge about SBS as a part of child abuse, and whether they were in need of education on the topic. METHODS: Health workers in the primary healthcare centers in the province of Kayseri were enrolled. A questionnaire was applied. RESULTS: In this study, 35.0% of the study group were physicians. 43.7% of the study group stated that they had not recieved any education regarding child abuse and neglect, and 52.1% stated that they believed that physical abuse was the most prominent form of abuse in society. While 64.1% of the participants stated that they had heard about SBS, 10.4% of these stated that they had heard about it, but did not have adequate knowledge on the topic. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of knowledge and a need for education regarding child abuse and neglect among the personnel working in primary healthcare, especially on the subject of SBS. Undergraduate and postgraduate education regarding child abuse and SBS will help to increase the number of people well-informed and sensitive to this important issue.

Traumatic brain injury and shaken baby syndrome.

Shaken baby syndrome is a serious form of physical child abuse, which is frequently overlooked. It is defined as vigorous manual shaking of an infant who is being held by the extremities or shoulders, leading to whiplash-induced intracranial and intraocular bleeding and no external signs of head trauma. This syndrome is seen most commonly in children under 2 years, mainly in children under 6 months. This article summarizes issues related to clinical presentation, diagnosis, risk factors, and interventions for healthcare professionals.

Abusive head trauma: a case study.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) has greater mortality and morbidity than any other form of physical abuse. Therefore, early recognition and accurate diagnosis are essential for comprehensive investigation and appropriate treatment of infants who present with this devastating traumatic injury. Advanced practice nurses need to have a thorough understanding of AHT in order to promptly and accurately assess and manage these infants. Using a case-based approach, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, mechanisms of injury, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of AHT are described. This article also discusses AHT prevention and implications for advanced practice nurses caring for these patients.

The shaken baby syndrome: an odyssey. II Origins and further hypotheses.

Subdural bleeding in the so-called "shaken baby syndrome" is recognized as a hallmark of this syndrome, and is often noted as chronic in nature, indicating an earlier time of origin than clinical presentation. In infants and neonates, the timeframe for generating such chronic intracranial bleeding is therefore limited. Neurosurgical, obstetric, and pediatric literature all recognize the significance of birth trauma in the generation of intracranial bleeding. This possibility is explored further here, with emphasis on features peculiar to Homo sapiens predisposing to intracranial bleeding during this timeframe. Encephalization and bipedalism combine to render the infant and mother susceptible to injury at birth.

Shaken baby syndrome.

Non-accidental head trauma in infants is the leading cause of infant death from injury. Clinical features that suggest head trauma (also known as shaken baby syndrome or shaken impact syndrome) include the triad consisting of retinal hemorrhage, subdural, and/or subarachnoid hemorrhage in an infant with little signs of external trauma. Abusive head injuries are among the most common causes of serious and lethal injuries in children. These injuries may result from impact or shaking or a combination of these mechanisms. These mechanisms cause the child's head to undergo acceleration/ deceleration movements, which may create inertial movement of the brain within the cranial compartment.

Subdural haematomas and physical abuse in the first two years of life.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze our institution's work-up for patients with a diagnosis of subdural haematoma (SDH) in order to determine how many of them are secondary to child abuse, as well as to examine their final functional outcome. METHODS: Retrospective review of children under 2 years of age diagnosed as having SDH between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: A total of 35 cases were identified. Fifteen patients that had underlying conditions that predispose them to bleed were excluded. Among the remaining 20 patients, seizures and head trauma were the main causes for consultation. All patients had a coagulation study and a head computed tomography carried out, 11 of these had a magnetic resonance imaging and 1 had a post-mortem examination. Bilateral SDHs in different stages of evolution was the most common pattern of intracranial haemorrhage. Fourteen infants had a skeletal survey, 4 had a bone scintigraphy and 19 had an ophthalmoscopic examination. Fractures were diagnosed in 7 patients and retinal haemorrhages in 11. The final diagnoses were: 10 shaken baby syndromes, 4 idiopathic SDH, 3 strokes, 2 coagulopathies and 1 accidental head injury. Upon follow-up, 1 patient had died and 9 had sustained permanent disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Cases of infantile SDH are usually thoroughly investigated. In spite of this, sometimes it is not possible to determine the SDH aetiology. Nonetheless, shaken baby syndrome remains the most frequent cause of SDH in infants, and it carries a poor prognosis.

Síndrome del niño sacudido: artículo de revisión / Shaken baby syndrome: review article

El maltrato infantil es un tema que permanece vigente en nuestro país. En el último tiempo hemos sido testigos de una forma infrecuente, pero no menos grave de maltrato; se trata del síndrome del niño sacudido. Esta entidad descrita ya en la década de los setenta ha sido objeto de numerosos estudios que han permitido una mejor comprensión de su patogenia. Las lesiones frecuentemente encontradas son el hematoma subdural y las hemorragias retinianas, en general sin otras lesiones externas y habitualmente en el contexto de una historia clínica inconsistente o variable en el tiempo. Los Tribunales de Familia, recién implementados en Chile, pretenden resolver de manera oportuna y eficiente ciertas materias, entre las cuales el maltrato infantil es tema prioritario. El objetivo del presente documento es revisar los aspectos médicos fundamentales de esta modalidad de agresión, además de orientar la conducta legal ante un niño maltratado.