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Chapter 3 - The Neuropathology of Shaken Baby Syndrome or Retino-Dural Haemorrhage of Infancy

from Section 2 - Medicine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2023

By
Waney Squier  and
Tommie Olofsson
Edited by
Keith A. Findley ,
Cyrille Rossant ,
Kana Sasakura ,
Leila Schneps ,
Waney Squier  and
Knut Wester
Keith A. Findley
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Cyrille Rossant
Affiliation:
University College London
Kana Sasakura
Affiliation:
Konan University, Japan
Leila Schneps
Affiliation:
Sorbonne Université, Paris
Waney Squier
Affiliation:
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
Knut Wester
Affiliation:
Universitetet i Bergen, Norway
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Summary

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), in its many guises (abusive head trauma, non-accidental injury, etc.) has been widely accepted and taught among paediatricians for more than 50 years. The central tenet of the hypothesis is that shaking can cause any or all of subdural haemorrhage (SDH), retinal haemorrhage (RH), and encephalopathy. These same pathologies are seen in normal newborn babies and infants after a range of insults, including trauma, and reflect the immature anatomy and pathophysiology of the infant brain and its covering membranes. Spinal damage is increasingly invoked to support the shaking diagnosis. This chapter examines the various brain, eye, and spinal pathologies claimed to be due to shaking, setting them in the context of the anatomy and specific vulnerabilities of the infant. We evaluate the empirical evidence that neuropathology can provide to support or refute these claims.

Keywords

subdural haemorrhageretinal haemorrhagesubpial haemorrhageencephalopathyretino-dural haemorrhage of infancysubdural membranesspinal subdural haemorrhagevenous thrombosisspinal ligamentous oedemasubscalp haemorrhageemissary veinsbridging veins
Type
Chapter
Information
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Investigating the Abusive Head Trauma Controversy
 , pp. 33 - 65
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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