Cerebral, spinal, ophthalmological and skeletal findings associated with abusive and non-abusive head injury in children under 2 years old: A systematic review.
Marjolein A C Mattheij, Laura Van den Bosch, Wouter A Karst et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined differences in clinical findings between children under 2 years with abusive head trauma (AHT) and non-abusive head trauma (nAHT). The review included 40 studies and identified 18 variables associated with AHT, including subdural hemorrhage and retinal hemorrhages. The findings highlight the challenges in diagnosing AHT due to varying presentations.
Key findings
- Eighteen clinical variables were associated with AHT, including subdural hemorrhage and retinal hemorrhages.
- Moderate or high risk of bias was observed in 69% of the studies assessed.
- Variables like skull fracture and long bone fracture were associated with nAHT.
Why it matters
Understanding the distinguishing features of AHT versus nAHT is crucial for clinicians to make accurate diagnoses and ensure timely intervention, potentially safeguarding vulnerable children.
What to keep in mind
Moderate to high risk of bias was noted in the majority of studies, which may affect the reliability of the findings.