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Ahmad D, Small A, Gibson A, Kissoon N. Developmental outcomes in abusive head trauma. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2024; 50:101142. [PMID: 38964813 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2024.101142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Abusive head trauma (AHT) is associated with high mortality and poorer outcomes compared to accidental head injuries. The short and long-term developmental outcomes for AHT are not well identified. Variability in outcome measures, small sample sizes, difficulty in measuring domain-specific developmental skills, co-existence of comorbidities, genetic and environmental factors and high attrition rates all contribute to the challenges on providing data in this area. The objective of this article is to review the scientific literature on the developmental outcomes of AHT, highlighting factors that affect outcomes, the available assessment tools, and short and long-term developmental outcomes, recommended follow up, societal costs, and future opportunities for research. Authors searched OVID Medline and PubMed for articles published between 2013 and 2023 using the terms "abuse", "craniocerebral trauma" and "development". Fifty-five records were included for this review. The data shows that injuries sustained from AHT result in a spectrum of outcomes ranging from normal development to death. There are more than 100 outcome assessment tools limiting the ability to compare studies. More than half of patients are left with disabilities post discharge. Gross motor and cognition/academics are the 2 most common domains studied. Advancement in surgical and neurocritical care management has influenced AHT outcomes. Close long-term follow up is recommended to maximize each child's developmental potential, irrespective of the presence of disability at discharge. We suggest that future research should focus on adopting a consistent diagnostic and assessment approach and explore the social environmental factors that can affect recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Ahmad
- UTHealth Houston (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), USA.
| | | | - Ashley Gibson
- UTHealth Houston (The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston), USA
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Chang HY, Chang YC, Chang YT, Chen YW, Wu PY, Feng JY. The Effectiveness of Parenting Programs in Preventing Abusive Head Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024; 25:354-368. [PMID: 36762510 DOI: 10.1177/15248380231151690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Parenting programs are the most common intervention for preventing the lethal form of child maltreatment, abusive head trauma (AHT). However, certain results of the effects of these programs have not yet been compared across studies. A systematic review with meta-analysis is warranted to quantitively synthesize the available evidence to identify effective elements and strategies of the programs for preventing AHT. This review aims to estimate AHT preventive parenting programs' pooled effect on the reduction of AHT incidence, the improvement of parental knowledge, and the increased use of safe strategies in response to infants' inconsolable crying. Studies published in English and Mandarin were searched and retained if they were randomized control trials (RCTs) or with a quasi-experimental design, included an AHT preventive parenting program, and provided data that quantified targeted outcomes. Eighteen studies were included in this review. AHT preventive parenting programs had a pooled effect on improving parents' knowledge and increasing the use of safe coping strategies in response to inconsolable crying but not on the incidence of AHT and parents' emotional self-regulation. Subgroup analyses showed that the intervention effects were mostly present across study designs or measurements and emerged in the reduction of AHT incidence compared with historical controls. The findings suggest that AHT preventive parenting programs enhance parenting knowledge and skills to provide safe care for infants. Further efforts to evaluate AHT parenting programs on the reduction of AHT incidence are necessary for decision-making on allocating and disseminating interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Yi Chang
- International Doctoral Program in Nursing, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
| | - Yu-Chun Chang
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei
| | - Yi-Ting Chang
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
- Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
| | - Pei-Yu Wu
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei
| | - Jui-Ying Feng
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
- Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
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Ferguson NM, Rebsamen S, Field AS, Guerrero JM, Rosario BL, Broman AT, Rathouz PJ, Bell MJ, Alexander AL, Ferrazzano PA. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Infants with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Associations with Abusive Head Trauma. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9071092. [PMID: 35884076 PMCID: PMC9322188 DOI: 10.3390/children9071092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Young children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have frequently been excluded from studies due to age and/or mechanism of injury. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now frequently being utilized to detect parenchymal injuries and early cerebral edema. We sought to assess MRI findings in infants with severe TBI, and to determine the association between specific MRI findings and mechanisms of injury, including abusive head trauma (AHT). MRI scans performed within the first 30 days after injury were collected and coded according to NIH/NINDS Common Data Elements (CDEs) for Neuroimaging in subjects age < 2 years old with severe TBI enrolled in the Approaches and Decisions in Acute Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Trial. Demographics and injury characteristics were analyzed. A total of 81 children were included from ADAPT sites with MRI scans. Median age was 0.77 years and 57% were male. Most common MRI finding was ischemia, present in 57/81 subjects (70%), in a median of 7 brain regions per subject. Contusion 46/81 (57%) and diffuse axonal injury (DAI) 36/81 (44.4%) subjects followed. Children were dichotomized based on likelihood of AHT with 43/81 subjects classified as AHT. Ischemia was found to be significantly associated with AHT (p = 0.001) and “inflicted” injury mechanism (p = 0.0003). In conclusion, the most common intracerebral injury seen on MRI of infants with severe TBI was ischemia, followed by contusion and DAI. Ischemia was associated with AHT, and ischemia affecting > 4 brain regions was predictive of AHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki Miller Ferguson
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
| | - Susan Rebsamen
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (S.R.); (A.S.F.)
| | - Aaron S. Field
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (S.R.); (A.S.F.)
| | - Jose M. Guerrero
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (J.M.G.); (A.L.A.)
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Waisman Brain Imaging Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Bedda L. Rosario
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Aimee T. Broman
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Paul J. Rathouz
- Department of Population Health, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Michael J. Bell
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA;
| | - Andrew L. Alexander
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (J.M.G.); (A.L.A.)
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Waisman Brain Imaging Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Peter A. Ferrazzano
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA; (J.M.G.); (A.L.A.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-608-265-4839
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Narang SK, Sachdev KK, Bertocci K, Pierre-Wright MJ, Kaczor K, Bertocci G, Pierce MC. Overturned abusive head trauma and shaken baby syndrome convictions in the United States: Prevalence, legal basis, and medical evidence. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2021; 122:105380. [PMID: 34743053 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Media reports and the Innocence Network assert that wrongful Abusive Head Trauma (AHT)/Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) convictions pervade the United States (U.S.) criminal justice system. Yet, no empirical evaluation of overturned AHT/SBS convictions has been conducted. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence, legal basis, and characteristics of appellate rulings of AHT/SBS convictions. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING U.S. appellate cases in a legal database, Westlaw. METHODS Retrospective review of AHT/SBS convictions that had appellate rulings from January 2008 through December 2018. Multiple search terms ensured all potential AHT/SBS cases were included. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted on overturned AHT/SBS convictions. RESULTS We identified a total of 1431 unique AHT/SBS criminal convictions that had appellate rulings since 2008. Of those, 49 convictions (3%) were overturned, and 1382 (97%) were affirmed/upheld. Of those overturned, 20 cases (1% overall) were overturned on medical evidence-related grounds. The most common themes from the medical evidence-related reversals were controversy over the AHT/SBS diagnosis (n = 12) and accidental injury mechanism (n = 11). After being overturned on appeal, upon retrial, 42% of defendants either re-plead guilty to or were convicted again of the same offense. CONCLUSION(S) AHT/SBS convictions are rarely overturned on medical evidence-related grounds. When overturned, medical evidence-related themes seldom reflect new scientific or clinical discoveries, but rather are alternative or differing medical opinions from those offered at the original trial. Our data tends to support the concerns of other authors regarding irresponsible communication of medical information in AHT/SBS cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Narang
- Child Advocacy and Protection Services, Children's Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI 53214, United States of America.
| | - K K Sachdev
- University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States of America
| | - K Bertocci
- University of Louisville, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Louisville, KY 40292, United States of America
| | - M J Pierre-Wright
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60201, United States of America
| | - K Kaczor
- Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outreach, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, United States of America
| | - G Bertocci
- University of Louisville, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Louisville, KY 40292, United States of America
| | - M C Pierce
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, United States of America
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Theodorou CM, Nuño M, Yamashiro KJ, Brown EG. Increased mortality in very young children with traumatic brain injury due to abuse: A nationwide analysis of 10,965 patients. J Pediatr Surg 2021; 56:1174-1179. [PMID: 33752910 PMCID: PMC8131228 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in young children; however, the impact of mechanism on outcomes has not been fully evaluated. We hypothesized that children with TBI due to abuse would have a higher mortality than children with accidental TBI due to motor vehicle collisions (MVC). METHODS We performed a retrospective review of the National Kids' Inpatient (KID) hospitalizations database of children <2 years old with TBI due to abuse or MVC (2000-2016). The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges. We investigated predictors of mortality with multivariable regression. RESULTS Of 10,965 children with TBI, 65.2% were due to abuse. Overall mortality was 9.8% (n = 1074). Abused children had longer LOS (5.7 vs 1.6 days, p < 0.0001) and higher hospital charges ($34,314 vs $19,360, p < 0.0001) than children with TBI due to MVC. The odds of mortality were 42% higher in children with abusive head trauma (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10-1.83, p = 0.007) compared to MVCs after adjusting for age, race, sex, neurosurgical intervention, injury severity, and insurance. CONCLUSION Children with abusive traumatic brain injury have increased risk of mortality, longer LOS, and higher hospital charges compared to children with TBI due to motor vehicle collision after adjusting for relevant confounders. Resources must be directed at prevention and early identification of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Theodorou
- University of California Davis Medical Center, Department of Pediatric General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery. Sacramento, CA USA.
| | - Miriam Nuño
- University of California Davis, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics. Sacramento, USA
| | - Kaeli J Yamashiro
- University of California Davis Medical Center, Department of Pediatric General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery. Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Erin G Brown
- University of California Davis Medical Center, Department of Pediatric General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery. Sacramento, CA USA
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