Shaken_Baby_Syndrome_Flashcards
What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?
Shaken Baby Syndrome encompasses the triad of retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematoma, and encephalopathy, caused by the intentional shaking of a child aged 0-5 years.
Why is the diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome controversial?
The diagnosis is controversial because there is debate among physicians regarding whether the mechanism of injury is definitely from intentional shaking. This has resulted in difficulties in court convictions.
What are the typical clinical features of Shaken Baby Syndrome?
Typical clinical features include retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematomas, and encephalopathy.
summarise
Shaken baby syndrome
This syndrome encompasses the triad of retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematoma, and encephalopathy. This is caused by the intentional shaking of a child (0-5 years old). The diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome has often made the headlines due to the controversy amongst physicians as to whether the mechanism of injury is definitely an intentional shaking of a child. This has often resulted in difficulty for the courts to convict suspects of causing shaken baby syndrome to a child.
A 4 month old baby girl is admitted to the Emergency Department after her mother noted that she stopped breathing. The baby was fit and well earlier. Unfortunately, advanced life support failed to resuscitate the baby. Her temperature on admission was 36.8ºC. The child was previously fit and healthy and up-to-date with vaccinations. On post-mortem, retinal haemorrhages were noted in the baby’s eyes bilaterally. Which of the following would explain the likely primary mechanism that have lead to the baby’s death?
Meningitis
Retinoblastoma
Pneumonia
Aggressive shaking of the baby
Fall on the head
Aggressive shaking of the baby
buzz words for exams
baby, ED, Bilateral retinal haemorrhages, stopped breathing
Retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematoma and encephalopathy is the triad of the shaken baby syndrome
An infant is brought to the emergency department by a concerned mother. She reports that the child was shaken violently by the father. The admitting paediatricians identify retinal haemorrhages and suspect encephalopathy. A CT head confirms the third classical finding of Shaken Baby Syndrome.
What was found on the CT head to complete the triad of features?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Intraventricular haemorrhage
Extradural haematoma
Subdural haematoma
Subgaleal haematoma
Subdural haematoma
Retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematoma and encephalopathy is the triad of the shaken baby syndrome
Subdural haematomas are the most common and classical intracranial feature of Shaken Baby Syndrome. The bridging cerebral veins are fragile in infants and the theory is that these vessels are torn when a child is shaken, leading to subdural haematomas.
