Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2-3
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-1-7
pubmed:abstractText
Non-accidental head injury, be it shaking, impact(s) or a combination of the two, is characterised by subdural and/or subarachnoid haemorrhages with retinal haemorrhages, but minimal or absent external cranio-facial trauma. The classical assault scenario depicts the infant being gripped around the head, face, chest and abdomen and shaken or being gripped by a limb and swung. This gripping might be expected to leave physical evidence in the form of bruising. A study was undertaken to establish the prevalence, distribution and pathological association of external bruising in 24 cases of fatal non-accidental head injury in children. At autopsy, 17 cases had new external bruises, 15 old external bruises and 13, a combination of both. However, seven (29%) cases showed no fresh external bruising and five (21%) showed no external bruising at all. Thus, external bruising may be absent in children with fatal intracranial injury. The face was shown to be the commonest site of bruising followed by the forehead and buttocks. Limb, chest and abdominal bruising were found to be uncommon. Retinal haemorrhages were confirmed in 23 (96%) cases. It is hypothesised that bruising, when present, may be a result of abuse in the form of punches and slaps rather than due to gripping during the assault. We discuss why gripping does not necessarily result in external bruising.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0379-0738
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
28
pubmed:volume
96
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
215-30
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Bruising in non-accidental head injured children; a retrospective study of the prevalence, distribution and pathological associations in 24 cases.
pubmed:affiliation
Manchester Medical School, Manchester University, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article