Subdural haematomas and physical abuse in the first two years of life

Abstract

Objective: To analyze our institution's work-up for patients with a diagnosis of subdural haematoma (SDH) in order to determine how many of them are secondary to child abuse, as well as to examine their final functional outcome.

Methods: Retrospective review of children under 2 years of age diagnosed as having SDH between 1995 and 2005.

Results: A total of 35 cases were identified. Fifteen patients that had underlying conditions that predispose them to bleed were excluded. Among the remaining 20 patients, seizures and head trauma were the main causes for consultation. All patients had a coagulation study and a head computed tomography carried out, 11 of these had a magnetic resonance imaging and 1 had a post-mortem examination. Bilateral SDHs in different stages of evolution was the most common pattern of intracranial haemorrhage. Fourteen infants had a skeletal survey, 4 had a bone scintigraphy and 19 had an ophthalmoscopic examination. Fractures were diagnosed in 7 patients and retinal haemorrhages in 11. The final diagnoses were: 10 shaken baby syndromes, 4 idiopathic SDH, 3 strokes, 2 coagulopathies and 1 accidental head injury. Upon follow-up, 1 patient had died and 9 had sustained permanent disabilities.

Conclusions: Cases of infantile SDH are usually thoroughly investigated. In spite of this, sometimes it is not possible to determine the SDH aetiology. Nonetheless, shaken baby syndrome remains the most frequent cause of SDH in infants, and it carries a poor prognosis.