Computed tomography in child abuse head trauma

Abstract

Forty-five head trauma cases from 177 child-abuse patients are reported. Intracranial injuries include acute epidural and subdural hematomas, subdural effusion, cerebral contusion, and atrophy (subdural effusion and cerebral contusion being most frequently seen). Incidence of skull fracture among the 45 patients is about 38%. Sixty-five percent of the 17 skull fracture patients also had intracranial injury, and 78% of the 28 patients with normal skulls had intracranial injury. CT should be the primary tool for evaluating child-abuse head trauma.