ABSTRACT
Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as nonaccidental or inflicted head injury, are often used to describe craniospinal injuries sustained by infants or children as a result of violent physical actions of adults or teenagers caring for them. Although forceful shaking alone may cause significant injury, in many instances, the head is struck against a surface. Others have proposed the term ‘‘shaken-impact syndrome,’’ since it more accurately reflects the age range and different mechanisms of injury. In its classic form, SBS involves an infant less than 6 months of age who presents with subdural and=or subarachnoid hematomas, bilateral retinal hemorrhages, and minimal or absent signs of external trauma. Long bone and=or rib fractures or evidence of other injuries (e.g., abdominal or urogenital) of differing ages are common findings. Regardless of whether shaking occurs alone or is accompanied by impact, the injury to the brain and eye results from sudden angular acceleration-deceleration of the head, which can cause intracranial hemorrhage and wide spread parenchymal axonal injury.
INCIDENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY
