Acceptance of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma as Medical Diagnoses. J Pediatr 2016 Oct;177:273-278
Date
07/28/2016Pubmed ID
27458075DOI
10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.06.036Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84979235678 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 53 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the current general acceptance within the medical community of shaken baby syndrome (SBS), abusive head trauma (AHT), and several alternative explanations for findings commonly seen in abused children.
STUDY DESIGN: This was a survey of physicians frequently involved in the evaluation of injured children at 10 leading children's hospitals. Physicians were asked to estimate the likelihood that subdural hematoma, severe retinal hemorrhages, and coma or death would result from several proposed mechanisms.
RESULTS: Of the 1378 physicians surveyed, 682 (49.5%) responded, and 628 were included in the final sample. A large majority of respondents felt that shaking with or without impact would be likely or highly likely to result in subdural hematoma, severe retinal hemorrhages, and coma or death, and that none of the alternative theories except motor vehicle collision would result in these 3 findings. SBS and AHT were comsidered valid diagnoses by 88% and 93% of the respondents, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Our empirical data confirm that SBS and AHT are still generally accepted by physicians who frequently encounter suspected child abuse cases, and are considered likely sources of subdural hematoma, severe retinal hemorrhages, and coma or death in young children. Other than a high-velocity motor vehicle collision, no alternative theories of causation for these findings are generally accepted.
Author List
Narang SK, Estrada C, Greenberg S, Lindberg DAuthor
Sandeep K. Narang MD, JD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAttitude of Health Personnel
Cause of Death
Child
Child Abuse
Coma
Craniocerebral Trauma
Hematoma, Subdural
Humans
Middle Aged
Retinal Hemorrhage
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Young Adult
