Nonaccidental Head Injury in Infants — The “Shaken-Baby Syndrome”

Abstract

Trauma is the most common cause of death in childhood, and inflicted head injury is the most common cause of traumatic death in infancy.¹³ Beginning with the classic descriptions of Kempe et al.⁴ and Caffey⁵ and with subsequent clinical, biomechanical, and radiologic studies, the diagnostic features of nonaccidental head injury in infants and toddlers have become widely recognized. This review outlines the mechanisms, typical features, differential diagnosis, and acute management of the most frequently encountered form of infantile inflicted head injury, the so-called shaken-baby syndrome.Biomechanics and TerminologyThe names applied to the syndromes of inflicted head injury in . . .