Childhood Falls With Occipital Impacts

26 cm fall caught on video causing subdural hemorrhages and extensive retinal hemorrhages in an 8-month-old infant

Severe, too many to count retinal hemorrhages (RH) in infants have been associated with abusive head trauma, but can occur in short falls. An 8-month-old male fell backward from a height of 26 cm, landing on his buttocks then hitting the back of his head on a vinyl floor. The fall was videotaped. Acute subdural hemorrhages were found along with extensive, too many to count intra-RH in both eyes. Falls from small heights on to the occiput can lead to extensive RH of the type often associated with abusive head trauma.

Neuroimaging considerations in abusive head trauma

This focused review on abusive head trauma describes the injuries to the head, brain and/or spine of an infant or young child from inflicted trauma and their neuroimaging correlates. Accurate recognition and diagnosis of abusive head trauma is paramount to prevent repeated injury, provide timely treatment, and ensure that accidental or underlying medical contributors have been considered. In this article, we aim to discuss the various findings on neuroimaging that have been associated with AHT, compared to those that are more consistent with accidental injuries or with underlying medical causes that may also be on the differential.

Retinodural haemorrhage of infancy, abusive head trauma, shaken baby syndrome: The continuing quest for evidence

The shaken baby syndrome was originally proposed in the 1970s without any formal scientific basis. Once data generated by scientific research was available, the hypothesis became controversial. There developed essentially two sides in the debate. One side claimed that the clinical triad of subdural haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhage, and encephalopathy, or its components, is evidence that an infant has been shaken. The other side stated this is not a scientifically valid proposal and that alternative causes, such as low falls and natural diseases, should be considered. The controversy continues, but the contours have shifted. During the last 15 years, research has shown that the triad is not sufficient to infer shaking or abuse and the shaking hypothesis does not meet the standards of evidence-based medicine. This raises the issue of whether it is fit for either clinical practice or for the courtroom; evidence presented to the courts must be unassailable. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: There is insufficient scientific evidence to assume that an infant with the triad of subdural haemorrhage (SDH), retinal haemorrhage, and encephalopathy must have been shaken. Biomechanical and animal studies have failed to support the hypothesis that shaking can cause SDH and retinal haemorrhage. Patterns of retinal haemorrhage cannot distinguish abuse. Retinal haemorrhages are commonly associated with extracerebral fluid collections (including SDH) but not with shaking. Infants can develop SDH, retinal haemorrhage, and encephalopathy from natural diseases and falls as low as 1 foot. The shaking hypothesis and the literature on which it depends do not meet the standards of evidence-based medicine.

Subdural hemorrhages and severe retinal hemorrhages in a short fall with a rotational component

We present the case of a 5-month-old referred for child abuse investigation with subdural hemorrhages and extensive retinal hemorrhages following a short fall from a swivel chair seen on video footage. Subdural hemorrhages with extensive retinal hemorrhages are not typically seen as the result of short household falls. Reviewing the footage, contributing factors may have included increased rotational and deceleration forces.

Short Falls in Childhood Occasionally Cause Major Brain Injuries Because of Unusual Circumstances

METHODS

Records and imaging were reviewed for children younger than 6 years, hospitalized between 2015 and 2020 for major closed head injuries following less than 4-ft falls. Major injury was defined as intensive care admission more than 2 days, neurosurgical intervention, death, or disability at hospital discharge. Subjects were identified through Seattle and Spokane, Washington abuse consultations. Harborview Medical Center's trauma registry and Seattle Children's Hospital's Hemophilia Treatment Program and Radiology were searched for subjects.

RESULTS

We identified 12 young children who sustained major closed head injury due to short falls. Seven developed major space-occupying epidural hemorrhages. One child developed internal hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage. One child with prior meningomyelocele, Chiari 2 malformation, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt developed shunt decompensation after an acute-on-chronic subdural hemorrhage. One child developed an internal capsule stroke because of a previously undiagnosed calcifying angiopathy. Another child developed space-occupying subdural hemorrhage associated with previously unrecognized platelet pool disorder. Only this child had abuse concerns, which were resolved with his coagulopathy diagnosis. One child had a diastatic skull fracture leading to pseudomeningocele.At Harborview Medical Center, 140 children were seen for short falls in the emergency department or inpatient service. Among the 40 needing intensive care, 4 (12.5%) had major injuries after short falls. Our hemophilia treatment program did not see any children who had sustained major injury following a short fall in a 5½ year period.

CONCLUSIONS

Although young children rarely sustain major head injury following short falls, serious head injuries do occasionally occur because of unusual injury mechanisms or preexisting conditions. It is important to fully evaluate these patients to differentiate these unintentional falls from abusive head injury.

Imaging of Abusive Head Trauma in Children

In this article, we describe relevant anatomy, mechanisms of injury, and imaging findings of abusive head trauma (AHT). We also briefly address certain mimics of AHT, controversies, pearls, and pitfalls. Concepts of injury, its evolution, and complex nature of certain cases are highlighted with the help of case vignettes.

Fall-related traumatic brain injury in a Nigerian pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Accidental falls are a common cause of disability and trauma-related death in the pediatric population, accounting for a large number of pediatric emergency hospital admissions. This multicenter study assesses the clinical characteristics, management outcomes of pediatric falls-related traumatic brain injury and associated factors in Nigeria.

METHODS

A retrospective study of pediatric patients (age less than 18-years) with falls over a 2-year period. Data was extracted from clinical records and neurosurgical data sheets from three major centres in Nigeria, and was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi square test and multinomial regression with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

128 children presented with fall-related TBI, with a median age of 96 months (age range of 5-216 months) and M:F was 6:1. 40.6 % had moderate head injury and 55.5 % of the falls were building related. There were 52(42.6 %) children with skull fractures. Older children more commonly fell from trees and had more cases of severe head injury (14.1 %) compared with those who fell from buildings (5.5 %). Children who fell from buildings presented early (64.1 %). The 10 % mortality was mainly in children older than 5-years. Children aged 0-5 years were three times likely to fall inside/outside a building (OR: 3.3, CI: 3.06 to 243.44). Also, those who fell from trees were 6 times more likely to have a long bone fracture (OR: 6.1, CI: 1.2 to 32.6).

CONCLUSIONS

In the Nigerian population Traumatic Brain Injury from falls is common among children, with older children falling more from trees and associated with high mortality.

Correlations of intracranial pathology and cause of head injury with retinal hemorrhage in infants and toddlers: A multicenter, retrospective study by the J-HITs (Japanese Head injury of Infants and Toddlers study) group

INTRODUCTION

In infants who have suffered head trauma there are two possible explanations for retinal hemorrhage (RH): direct vitreous shaking and occurrence in association with intracranial lesions. Which possibility is more plausible was examined.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective study reviewed the clinical records of children younger than four years with head trauma who had been diagnosed with any findings on head computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of 452 cases, 239 underwent an ophthalmological examination and were included in this study. The relationships of RH with intracranial findings and the cause of injury were examined.

RESULT

Odds ratios for RH were significant for subdural hematoma (OR 23.41, p = 0.0004), brain edema (OR 5.46, p = 0.0095), nonaccidental (OR 11.26, p<0.0001), and self-inflicted falls (OR 6.22, p = 0.0041).

CONCLUSION

Although nonaccidental, brain edema and self-inflicted falls were associated with RH, subdural hematoma was most strongly associated with RH.

The eye in child abuse

Child physical abuse may result in a range of injuries to the globe and surrounding tissues. These injuries have varying degrees of specificity for abuse, and no pattern of injury is unique to abuse. Easily overlooked eye injuries in non-ambulatory infants often portend more severe abuse and require careful evaluation for occult injury when they are unexplained. Retinal hemorrhages are most often a sign of significant trauma and the severity of the hemorrhages generally parallels the severity of neurological trauma. Ophthalmologists contribute important data that more easily distinguish medical disease from trauma, but caution is needed in differentiating accidental from inflicted trauma. This distinction requires careful consideration of the complete clinical data and occasionally on additional law enforcement or child welfare investigation.

Head biomechanics of video recorded falls involving children in a childcare setting

The objective of this study was to characterize head biomechanics of video-recorded falls involving young children in a licensed childcare setting. Children 12 to < 36 months of age were observed using video monitoring during daily activities in a childcare setting (in classrooms and outdoor playground) to capture fall events. Sensors (SIM G) incorporated into headbands worn by the children were used to obtain head accelerations and velocities during falls. The SIM G device was activated when linear acceleration was ≥ 12 g. 174 video-recorded falls activated the SIM G device; these falls involved 31 children (mean age = 21.6 months ± 5.6 SD). Fall heights ranged from 0.1 to 1.2 m. Across falls, max linear head acceleration was 50.2 g, max rotational head acceleration was 5388 rad/s², max linear head velocity was 3.8 m/s and max rotational head velocity was 21.6 rad/s. Falls with head impact had significantly higher biomechanical measures. There was no correlation between head acceleration and fall height. No serious injuries resulted from falls—only 1 child had a minor injury. In conclusion, wearable sensors enabled characterization of head biomechanics during video-recorded falls involving young children in a childcare setting. Falls in this setting did not result in serious injury.

Retinal haemorrhage in infants investigated for suspected maltreatment is strongly correlated with intracranial pathology

AIM

To test the two prevailing hypotheses regarding the aetiology of infant retinal haemorrhage: (a) traction forces exerted by the lens and/or corpus vitreum on the retina during infant shaking or (b) retinal vessel leakage secondary to intracranial pathology and raised intracranial pressure.

METHODS

Comparison of medical findings and reported type of trauma in infants investigated for suspected physical abuse with presence (n = 29) or non-presence of retinal haemorrhage (RH) (n = 119).

RESULTS

Intracranial pathology was recorded in 15 (13%) of the non-RH cases and in 27 (97%) of the RH cases (p < 0.0001). All 18 infants with bilateral RH had intracranial pathology. Of 27 infants subjected to witnessed or admitted shaking, two were in the group with RH. One had a single unilateral RH and no intracranial pathology. The other had bilateral RH and intracranial pathology with non-specific white matter changes, acute subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhages, and suspected cortical venous thrombosis. In 15 RH cases, there was no trauma reported and no findings other than RH and intracranial pathology. Accidental blunt head trauma was reported in 7 RH cases.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that RH in infants is secondary to intracranial pathology of non-specific aetiology.

Infantile subdural hematoma in Japan: A multicenter, retrospective study by the J-HITs (Japanese head injury of infants and toddlers study) group

Objective

Subdural hematoma in infants or toddlers has often been linked to abuse, but it is not clear how many cases actually occur and how many are suspected of abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate subdural hematoma in infants and toddlers in Japan.

Methods

This multicenter, retrospective study reviewed the clinical records of children younger than 4 years with head trauma who were diagnosed with any finding on head computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), such as skull fracture and/or intracranial injury. A total of 452 children were included. The group suspected to have been abused was classified as nonaccidental, and the group considered to have been caused by an accident was classified as accidental. Subdural hematoma and other factors were examined on multivariate analysis to identify which factors increase the risk of nonaccidental injuries.

Results

Of the 452 patients, 158 were diagnosed with subdural hematoma. Subdural hematoma was the most common finding intracranial finding in head trauma in infants and toddlers. A total of 51 patients were classified into the nonaccidental group, and 107 patients were classified into the accidental group. The age of patients with subdural hematoma showed a bimodal pattern. The mean age of the accidental group with subdural hematoma was significantly older than that in the nonaccidental group (10.2 months vs 5.9 months, respectively. p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that patients under 5 months old, retinal hemorrhage, and seizure were significant risk factors for nonaccidental injury (odds ratio (OR) 3.86, p = 0.0011; OR 7.63, p < 0.001; OR 2.49, p = 0.03; respectively). On the other hand, the odds ratio for subdural hematoma was 1.96, and no significant difference was observed (p = 0.34).

Conclusions

At least in Japanese children, infantile subdural hematoma was frequently observed not only in nonaccidental but also in accidental injuries. In infants with head trauma, age, the presence of retinal hemorrhage, and the presence of seizures should be considered when determining whether they were abused. Subdural hematoma is also a powerful finding to detect abuse, but care should be taken because, in some ethnic groups, such as the Japanese, there are many accidental cases.

External Hydrocephalus as a Cause of Infant Subdural Hematoma: Epidemiological and Radiological Investigations of Infants Suspected of Being Abused

BACKGROUND

Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in infants have been regarded as highly specific for abuse. Other causes of CSDH have not been investigated in a large population.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent external hydrocephalus is present in infants with ASDH and CSDH undergoing evaluation for abuse.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eighty-five infants suspected of being abused, with ASDH (n = 16) or CSDH (n = 69), were reviewed regarding age, risk factor profiles, craniocortical width (CCW), sinocortical width (SCW), frontal interhemispheric width (IHW), subarachnoid space width (SSW), and head circumference (HC). In infants with unilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), correlations between contralateral SSW and ipsilateral CCW and SDH width were investigated.

RESULTS

Infants with CSDH had significantly lower mortality, were more often premature and male, and had significantly higher CCW, SCW, IHW, and SSW than infants with ASDH (P < 0.05). Ipsilateral CCW (R = 0.92, P < 0.001) and SDH width (R = 0.81, P < 0.01) correlated with contralateral SSW. Increased HC was more prevalent in infants with CSDH (71%) than in infants with ASDH (14%) (P < 0.01). Forty-two infants, all with CSDH, had at least one of CCW, SCW, or IHW ≥95^th percentile. Twenty infants, all with CSDH, had CCW, SCW, and IHW >5 mm, in addition to increased HC.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of infants with CSDH who had been suspected of being abused had findings suggesting external hydrocephalus.

Retinal hemorrhage and bleeding disorders in children: A review

BACKGROUND

Retinal hemorrhages (RH) are a common manifestation of abusive head trauma (AHT) resulting from acceleration-deceleration injury with or without blunt impact. Evaluation of a child with RH requires careful consideration of these differential diagnoses. The extent to which coagulopathy alone can cause RH would be useful to understand as coagulopathy may accompany AHT.

OBJECTIVE

In this systematic review, we sought to identify whether coagulopathies have been reported with RH similar to those of AHT.

METHODS

We performed a literature search for ocular manifestations of bleeding disorders in children less than 18 years old. We included clotting factor deficiencies, vitamin K deficiency, platelet function abnormalities, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and trauma induced coagulopathy (TIC). We included only pediatric reports of intraocular bleeding or documented eye examinations that indicated no hemorrhages. We then re-examined cases for ocular and systemic findings that could potentially mimic abuse.

RESULTS

Our initial search yielded 816 results. Sixty-one articles met our inclusion criteria. Of these, there were 32 children within the AHT age range (less than 5 years old) who had RH and concomitant coagulopathy. Only 5 cases might potentially be confused for abuse. Of these, no classic characteristics of RH from abuse such as retinoschisis or retinal folds were found. Systemic features were inconsistent with AHT.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of coagulopathy alone does not rule out the possibility that the child has been abused. Coagulopathy alone has not been reported as an etiology of RH that are consistent with AHT, especially when other findings are present.

Bilateral Parietal Skull Fractures in Infants Attributable to Accidental Falls

INTRODUCTION

Multiple skull fractures, including bilateral parietal skull fractures (BPSFs) in infants are considered to be suspicious for abusive head trauma (AHT). The aim of this report is to describe a series of BPSF cases in infants which occurred due to accidental falls.

METHODS

We searched our neuroradiology database for BPSF in infants (<1 year old) diagnosed between 2006 and 2019; we reviewed initial presentation, mechanisms of injury, clinical course, head imaging, skeletal survey X-rays, ophthalmology, social work and child abuse physicians (CAP) assessments, and long-term follow-up. "Confirmed accidental BPSF" were strictly defined as having negative skeletal survey and ophthalmology evaluation and a CAP conclusion of accidental injury.

RESULTS

Twelve cases of BPSF were found; 3 were confirmed to be accidental, with a mean age at presentation of 3 months. Two infants had single-impact falls, and 1 had a compression injury; all 3 had small intracranial hemorrhages. None had bruises or other injuries, and all remained clinically well. A literature search found 10 similar cases and further biomechanical evidence that these fractures can occur from accidental falls.

CONCLUSION

While AHT should be kept in the differential diagnosis whenever BPSFs are seen, these injuries can occur as a result of accidental falls.

Occurrence of traumatic brain injury due to short falls with or without a witness by a nonrelative in children younger than 2 years

OBJECTIVE

There is disagreement about the occurrence of severe traumatic brain injury, especially subdural hematoma, caused by short falls in very young children. To verify intracranial injury due to these falls and examine its characteristics, the authors compared infants and toddlers with head trauma witnessed by a nonrelative with those whose injuries were not witnessed by a nonrelative.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed clinical records of children younger than 2 years with head trauma due to a short fall who visited the emergency department of the National Center for Child Health and Development in Japan between April 2015 and March 2018. Patients were classified into two groups: falls that were witnessed by a nonrelative and falls not witnessed by a nonrelative. The authors compared the age in months, sex, mechanism of injury, fall height, prevalence rate of intracranial injury, skull fracture, type of traumatic brain injury, retinal hemorrhage, rib or long-bone fracture, and outcomes between patients whose fall was witnessed by a nonrelative and those whose fall was not witnessed by a nonrelative.

RESULTS

Among 1494 patients included in the present analysis, 392 patients were classified into the group of falls witnessed by a nonrelative, and 1102 patients were classified into the group of falls that were not witnessed by a nonrelative. The prevalence rates of intracranial injury, skull fracture, epidural hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage were equal between the groups. The prevalence rate of subdural hematoma in the group whose falls were witnessed by a nonrelative was significantly lower than that of the other group (p = 0.027). There were no patients with subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhage, or neurological sequelae in the group whose fall was witnessed by a nonrelative.

CONCLUSIONS

Subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhage, and neurological sequelae due to short falls were not seen after witnessed falls in the present study.

Medical findings and symptoms in infants exposed to witnessed or admitted abusive shaking: A nationwide registry study

BACKGROUND

Many physicians regard the combination of encephalopathy, subdural haemorrhage (SDH), retinal haemorrhage (RH), rib fractures, and classical metaphyseal lesions (CML) as highly specific for abusive head trauma (AHT). However, without observed abuse or other criteria that are independent of these findings, bias risk is high.

METHODS

Infants subjected for examination under the suspicion of maltreatment during the period 1997-2014 were identified in the National Patient Registry, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 SE). The medical records were scrutinized for identification of cases of witnessed or admitted physical abuse by shaking. The main outcome measures were occurrence of SDH, RH, fractures and skin lesions.

RESULTS

All identified 36 infants had been shaken, and for 6, there was information indicating blunt force impact immediately after shaking. In 30 cases, there were no findings of SDH or RH, rib fractures, or CMLs. Six infants had finding(s) suggestive of physical abuse, two with possible acute intracranial pathology. One infant with combined shaking and impact trauma had hyperdense SDH, hyperdense subarachnoid haemorrhage, suspected cortical vein thrombosis, RH, and bruises. Another infant abused by shaking had solely an acute subarachnoid haemorrhage. Both had pre-existing vulnerability. The first was born preterm and had non-specific frontal subcortical changes. The other had bilateral chronic SDH/hygroma.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings do not support the hypothesis that acute SDH or RH can be caused by isolated shaking of a healthy infant. However, they do suggest that abuse by shaking may cause acute intracranial haemorrhage with RH in infants with certain risk factors.

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.

Abuse as a Cause of Childhood Fractures

BACKGROUND

It is well known that physical abuse of children all too often escapes detection. Fractures are among the potential consequences of physical abuse but are also com- mon in childhood because of accidents. A question frequently addressed to the Medical Child Protection Hotline (Medizini- sche Kinderschutzhotline) is how fractures due to abuse can be distinguished from accidental fractures.

METHODS

This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a search in PubMed and in the Cochrane Data- base, as well as on the authors' experience in a pediatric emergency department with ca. 29 000 consultations per year and in a child protection outpatient clinic with ca. 100 consultations per year.

RESULTS

Fractures due to abuse are especially common among infants; their incidence is estimated at 56.8/100 000 among infants less than six months old and 39.8/100 000 among infants aged 6 to 11 months. In consideration of the age of the child, the type of fracture, the history, and other factors, a high probability of abuse can be suspected in many cases, so that further measures can be initiated.

CONCLUSION

All physicians involved in the care of children (even if only occasionally) should be aware of the major indicators of likely physical abuse and of the available oppor- tunities for counseling and intervention. Failures to diagnose child abuse are associated with high rates of recurrence and mortality.

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 evaluation of suspected child physical abuse

Child physical abuse is an important cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality and is associated with major physical and mental health problems that can extend into adulthood. Pediatricians are in a unique position to identify and prevent child abuse, and this clinical report provides guidance to the practitioner regarding indicators and evaluation of suspected physical abuse of children. The role of the physician may include identifying abused children with suspicious injuries who present for care, reporting suspected abuse to the child protection agency for investigation, supporting families who are affected by child abuse, coordinating with other professionals and community agencies to provide immediate and long-term treatment to victimized children, providing court testimony when necessary, providing preventive care and anticipatory guidance in the office, and advocating for policies and programs that support families and protect vulnerable children.