Nonaccidental traumatic brain injury in infants and children

Radiologe. 2021 Jul 12. doi: 10.1007/s00117-021-00885-5. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTViolent traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause brain dysfunction and injury. Accidental and nonaccidental trauma are still the leading cause of childhood death worldwide. It is assumed that about 20% of TBI in children under 2 years of age are nonaccidentally caused. In all cases, nonaccidental TBI is caused by the violent impact on the brain and spinal cord by the massive shaking of the child held by the upper arms or body. This can lead to a rupture of blood vessels, especially bridge veins, as well as axonal shear injuries to the nerve connections and brain swelling. Involvement of the brain stem can lead to initial short-term respiratory arrest. The resulting clinical symptoms include poor drinking, drowsiness, apathy, cerebral seizures, breathing disorders, temperature disorders, and vomiting as a result of increased intracranial pressure. Long-term disorders can include neurological and neuropsychological disorders, hearing disorders, visual disorders up to blindness, and poor school performance. In addition, there are metaphyseal fractures and rib fractures of various forms, also of different ages. Since shaking trauma has a poor prognosis, preventive measures are useful: education!PMID:34251479 | DOI:10.1007/s00117-021-00885-5
Source: Der Radiologe - Category: Radiology Authors: Source Type: research