Modeling of inflicted head injury by shaking trauma in children: what can we learn? : Update to parts I&II: A systematic review of animal, mathematical and physical models.

Inflicted shaking trauma can cause injury in infants, but exact injury mechanisms remain unclear. Controversy exists, particularly in courts, whether additional causes such as impact are required to produce injuries found in cases of (suspected) shaking. Publication rates of studies on animal and biomechanical models of inflicted head injury by shaking trauma (IHI-ST) in infants continue rising.

Modeling of inflicted head injury by shaking trauma in children: what can we learn? : Part I: A systematic review of animal models.

Inflicted blunt force trauma and/or repetitive acceleration-deceleration trauma in infants can cause brain injury. Yet, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism with its associated thresholds remains unclear. In this systematic review an overview of animal models for shaking trauma and their findings on tissue damage will be provided.

Modeling of inflicted head injury by shaking trauma in children: what can we learn? : Part II: A systematic review of mathematical and physical models.

Various types of complex biomechanical models have been published in the literature to better understand processes related to inflicted head injury by shaking trauma (IHI-ST) in infants. In this systematic review, a comprehensive overview of these models is provided. A systematic review was performed in MEDLINE and Scopus for articles using physical (e.

The Swedish Agency for health technology-report about traumatic shaking: much ado about nothing?

The 2016 Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) systematic review deals with the role of the 'triad' (subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and various forms of brain symptoms) in the medical investigation of suspected traumatic shaking. In this commentary we will not discuss the methodological shortcomings of the SBU-review but will concentrate on the effects of the review on the daily practice of protecting children and families in court procedures. In our opinion the report did not add anything to what was already known in clinical and forensic medicine.

Pediatric constrictive asphyxia a rare form of child abuse: A report of two cases.

We present two cases of infants who died under suspicious circumstances. After clinical and legal investigations, non-accidental constrictive asphyxia inflicted by one of the parents was established. The first case presents a to date not yet reported, unique mechanism of trauma.

Subdural hematomas: glutaric aciduria type 1 or abusive head trauma? A systematic review.

Purpose: Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is a rare metabolic disorder of glutaryl-CoA-dehydrogenase enzyme deficiency. Children with GA1 are reported to be predisposed to subdural hematoma (SDH) development due to stretching of cortical veins secondary to cerebral atrophy and expansion of CSF spaces. Therefore, GA1 testing is part of the routine work-up in abusive head trauma (AHT).

Multicystic encephalopathy in abusive head trauma.

Objective: The proof of abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants is difficult, especially in cases with a long posttraumatic survival period. In the acute phase, injury to the cranio-cervical junction causes disturbances in respiratory and cardiac control, leading to apnea and bradycardia. Infants who survive the acute phase may subsequently develop multicystic encephalopathy.

Abusive head trauma in young children in the Netherlands: evidence for multiple incidents of abuse.

Aim: We investigated the prevalence of risk factors for and the prevalence of prior abuse in abusive head trauma victims in the Netherlands.

Methods: We performed a retrospective file review of all abusive head trauma cases in the Netherlands in which forensic medical expertise was requested by the courts, between 2005 and 2010. Outcome measures were risk factors and indicators for prior abuse.

In vitro validation of vaginal sampling in rape victims: the problem of Locard's principle.

Purpose: Intra-vaginal traces can serve as supporting physical evidence of vaginal penetration in sex-crime cases. Vaginal trace sampling guidelines prescribe using a speculum and swabs or swabs only. The use of Locard's exchange theory requires samples of trace materials to always be contamination-free and of accurately known origin.

Abusive head trauma Part II: radiological aspects.

Unlabelled: Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a relatively common cause of neurotrauma in young children. Radiology plays an important role in establishing a diagnosis and assessing a prognosis. Computed tomography (CT), followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), is the best tool for neuroimaging.

Educational paper: Abusive Head Trauma part I. Clinical aspects.

Unlabelled: Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) refers to the combination of findings formerly described as shaken baby syndrome. Although these findings can be caused by shaking, it has become clear that in many cases there may have been impact trauma as well. Therefore a less specific term has been adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Skin signs in child abuse and differential diagnosis.

Child abuse has been recognized as a serious problem, of which the awareness in medical discipline but also in the general public has been increased since many years. The reporting of child abuse has therefore been increased during the last years. Also in politics it has been noted that the current situation around child abuse is alarming and the caring approach has many short-comings in early recognition and treatment.

Multicystic encephalomalacia as an end-stage finding in abusive head trauma.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is one of the most severe forms of physical child abuse. If a child initially survives severe AHT the neurological outcome can be poor. In recent years several children were seen who developed multicystic encephalomalacia (MCE) after documented severe AHT.

[Unnatural death due to child abuse--forensic autopsies 1996-2009].

Objective: To evaluate the number of cases of fatal child abuse in minors on whom forensic autopsy was carried out in the Netherlands during the period 1996-2009 and to compare the 1996 data with Dutch data published earlier by Kuyvenhoven et al. (a questionnaire study among general practitioners and paediatricians).

Design: Descriptive retrospective study.

Nonaccidental trauma: clinical aspects and epidemiology of child abuse.

Radiologists play a key role in the recognition of child abuse. In the last century, radiologists pioneered the identification of nonaccidental injuries, including fractures and brain injury, and together with colleagues in paediatrics advocated the protection of children from abuse. Prevalence studies in many countries have revealed the widespread and hidden nature of child maltreatment.

Birth-related mid-posterior rib fractures in neonates: a report of three cases (and a possible fourth case) and a review of the literature.

Background: Posterior rib fractures in young children have a high positive predictive value for non-accidental injury (NAI). Combined data of five studies on birth trauma (115,756 live births) showed no cases of rib fractures resulting from birth trauma. There have, however, been sporadic cases reported in the literature.

Radiology in suspected non-accidental injury: theory and practice in The Netherlands.

Introduction: This study evaluates radiological imaging in suspected non accidental injury (NAI) in children below the age of 2 years in the Netherlands.

Material And Methods: The study consisted of two parts; first an on-line questionnaire on suspected NAI, amongst radiological practices within the Netherlands. The second part of the study was a retrospective analysis of skeletal surveys in children under the age of 2 years, which were reviewed in an expert centre of forensic medicine on request of the public prosecutor.

[Child abuse--the approach in the hospital].

It is estimated that at least 50,000 children are victims of child abuse each year in The Netherlands. Approximately 40 of these children die. Doctors, in cooperation with other disciplines, have a role in signalling child abuse in hospitals.

Desire for information about drugs: a survey of the need for information in psychiatric in-patients.

Background: Promoting therapy adherence requires understanding various psychosocial parameters, including patients' need for information. Drug information adapted to patients' needs may empower them and increase their confidence in drug therapy.

Objectives: To explore psychiatric in-patients' information preferences and to test the reliability of a Dutch version of the Intrinsic Desire for Information (IDI) scale in psychiatric institutions in Flanders.