134 battered children: a medical and psychological study.
(9/16)
A controlled investigation of 134 battered children showed that nearly half had serious injuries and 21 died. Sixty-five had been battered more than once, 20 had permanent neurological sequelae, a quarter were low birth weight babies, and 10 had serious congenital defects. Twenty-three had been previously admitted to hospital with failure to thrive and the overlap with physical neglect was considerable. Mortality and morbidity among their siblings was also high. Difficulties with the child were attributable to interaction with neurotic mothers.The risk of battering diminishes after a child's second birthday. The establishment of specialized hospital teams to tackle the overall problem is suggested as a method of improving management. Prevention may lie in educating mothers in the basic physical and psychological requirements of children and overcoming their reluctance to avail themselves of medical care. (+info)
Changing clinical picture of non-accidental injury to children.
(10/16)
The setting up of the South Glamorgan Area Review Committee and locally agreed procedures in 1974 has been associated with a considerable increase in observed moderately severe non-accidental injuries in children. The increase is in all age groups but is rising in older children. Most of the rise is likely to be due to increased community awareness. On the other hand, there has been a steady decrease in severe injuries, which may well be due to early recognition of minor or moderate injuries preventing the development of severe injuries. (+info)
Traumatic avulsion of the vascular supply of a crossed unfused ectopic kidney: complementary roles of ultrasonography and intravenous pyelography.
(11/16)
Ultrasonography and intravenous pyelography play complementary roles in demonstrating the effect of avulsion of the vascular supply of a crossed unfused ectopic kidney. (+info)
Acute renal failure in battered child syndrome.
(12/16)
Battered child syndrome, a not uncommon problem, may involve deep structures including the liver, spleen, and brain. While involvement of kidneys is extremely rare, such an association is illustrated by the following case which presented with azotemia and hypertension. Management should depend on the degree of renal failure and hypertension as well as the extent of any electrolyte imbalance. (+info)
Ocular and cerebral trauma in non-accidental injury in infancy: underlying mechanisms and implications for paediatric practice.
(13/16)
AIMS: To determine the sites, mechanisms, and clinical significance of injuries to the eyes and brains of children with non-accidental injuries in relation to differing levels of trauma. METHODS: A forensic pathological study of injuries in the eyes and brains of 23 consecutive children dying of non-accidental injuries over a 4 year period (1988-92) under the jurisdiction of Yorkshire and Humberside coroners. RESULTS: Sixteen children died from cerebral injuries and seven died from non-cerebral causes. There were high incidences of retinal detachment (63%) and subhyaloid (75%), intraretinal (75%), and perineural (68%) haemorrhages in CNS deaths. Local subhyaloid haemorrhages and retinal detachment were more common at the periphery and optic disc than at the equator. There was a strong correlation between CNS and eye trauma scores in all 23 children (r = 0.7551, p < 0.0001). Ranking of injuries by severity suggests progressively more trauma required for (a) subdural haemorrhage, (b) subhyaloid, intraretinal, perineural haemorrhages, and (c) retinal detachment. At highest trauma levels choroidal and vitreous haemorrhages were associated with additional cerebral lacerations, intracerebral and subarachnoid haemorrhages. CONCLUSIONS: In non-accidental (and probably accidental) infantile head injury the earliest eye injuries (coinciding with subdural haemorrhage) could be missed if indirect ophthalmoscopy is not performed. Retinal detachment and multiple (particularly choroidal/vitreous) haemorrhages may indicate additional cerebral lacerations and/or intracerebral haemorrhage. Vitreous traction is the likely cause of intraocular pathology. (+info)
Recanalization of the falcine sinus after venous sinus thrombosis.
(14/16)
Thrombosis of the straight and transverse sinuses associated with a large hemorrhagic venous infarct developed in an infant with large chronic subdural fluid collections after drainage of the subdurals. CT and MR studies obtained before and after the onset of venous sinus thrombosis showed interval widening of a segment of the posterior falx between the vein of Galen and the superior sagittal sinus. MR angiography confirmed a recanalized falcine sinus. (+info)
Anatomy of the shaken baby syndrome.
(15/16)
Shaken baby syndrome refers to the constellation of nonaccidental injuries occurring in infants and young children as a consequence of violent shaking. The typical victim of shaken baby syndrome is a male infant younger than six months of age who is alone with the perpetrator at the time of injury. Occurrence of the syndrome is unrelated to race, gender, socioeconomic status, or education. The characteristic injuries observed in shaken baby syndrome include subdural hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, and fractures of the ribs or long bones. Although each of these injuries may result from violent shaking of the victim, the most severe brain injuries result from the addition of a forceful impact of the infant's or child's head against a firm surface. The unique anatomic features of the infant's head and skeletal system, which account for the type and pattern of injuries observed in shaken baby syndrome, are emphasized in this article. (+info)
Trends in intentional injury deaths in children and teenagers (1980-1995).
(16/16)
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to describe patterns and trends in intentional injury death rates in children and teenagers. METHODS: Analyses were carried out on data from the Office of National Statistics on all intentional injury deaths in people aged 0 to 19 years, in England and Wales, from 1980 to 1995. Trends in death rates were examined using Poisson regression modelling, and class-specific death rates were estimated using the Registrar General's Standard Classification of Occupations. RESULTS: Between 1980 and 1995, there has been a substantial fall in the unintentional injury death rate, but no reduction in the intentional injury death rate. Intentional injuries made up 13 per cent of injury and poisoning deaths in 1980, and 25 per cent of such deaths in 1995. Each year in England and Wales an average of 335 children and teenagers die as a result of homicide, suicide and injuries of undetermined intent. Older teenagers (15-19 years) account for 70 per cent of intentional injury deaths, children 0-4 years account for 18 per cent, and children 5-15 years account for 12 per cent. Of the 5361 intentional injury deaths, 45 per cent were classified as injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted, 35 per cent were classified as suicide, and 20 per cent were classified as homicide. With the exception of suicide, there are steep social class gradients for each category of intentional injury. The homicide rate for children in social class V is 17 times that for children in social class I. For all intentional injury, homicide, suicide and injuries of undetermined intent, the relative risk of death for manual vs. non-manual was higher for the four year period 1992-1995 than in the four year period 1980-1983. CONCLUSIONS: Intentional injury is responsible for an average of 335 deaths of children and teenagers each year in England and Wales. Unlike for unintentional injury, there has been no reduction in death rates from intentional injury, which now accounts for 25 per cent of all injury deaths. There is a steep social class gradient in intentional injury death rates, which has widened over the period 1980-1995. (+info)