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Subdural haemorrhages in infants: population based study.

S Jayawant·A Rawlinson·F Gibbon·J Price·J Schulte·P Sharples·J R Sibert·A M Kemp
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify the incidence, clinical outcome, and associated factors of subdural haemorrhage in children under 2 years of age, and to determine how such cases were investigated and how many were due to child abuse. DESIGN: Population based case series. SETTING: South Wales and south west England. SUBJECTS: Children under 2 years of age who had a subdural haemorrhage. We excluded neonates who developed subdural haemorrhage during their stay on a neonatal unit and infants who developed a subdural haemorrhage after infection or neurosurgical intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence and clinical outcome of subdural haemorrhage in infants, the number of cases caused by child abuse, the investigations such children received, and associated risk factors. RESULTS: Thirty three children (23 boys and 10 girls) were haemorrhage. The incidence was 12.8/100 000 children/year (95% confidence interval 5.4 to 20.2). Twenty eight cases (85%) were under 1 year of age. The incidence of subdural haemorrhage in children under 1 year of age was 21.0/100 000 children/year and was therefore higher than in the older children. The clinical outcome was poor: nine infants died and 15 had profound disability. Only 22 infants had the basic investigations of a full blood count, coagulation screen, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, skeletal survey or bone scan, and ophthalmological examination. In retrospect, 27 cases (82%) were highly suggestive of abuse. CONCLUSION: Subdural haemorrhage is common in infancy and carries a poor prognosis; three quarters of such infants die or have profound disability. Most cases are due to child abuse, but in a few the cause is unknown. Some children with subdural haemorrhage do not undergo appropriate investigations. We believe the clinical investigation of such children should include a full multidisciplinary social assessment, an ophthalmic examination, a skeletal survey supplemented with a bone scan or a skeletal survey repeated at around 10 days, a coagulation screen, and computed tomography or magentic resonance imaging. Previous physical abuse in an infant is a significant risk factor for subdural haemorrhage and must be taken seriously by child protection agencies.

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Child AbuseEnglandFemaleHematoma, SubduralHumansIncidenceInfantInfant, NewbornMagnetic Resonance ImagingMalePhysical ExaminationRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsTomography, X-Ray ComputedTreatment OutcomeWalesJournal Article

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S Jayawant, A Rawlinson, F Gibbon, J Price, J Schulte, P Sharples, J R Sibert, A M Kemp. 1998-12-05. Subdural haemorrhages in infants: population based study.. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.317.7172.1558

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