title: Demonstration and interpretation of bridging vein ruptures in cases of infantile subdural bleedings.
abstract: Report of two cases of lethal infantile subdural bleedings (SDB). Bridging vein (BV) ruptures were directly proven as the source of the (minimal) SDB by a postmortem X-ray. In the controversial discussion concerning the causes of infantile SDB, proof of the occurrence of several BV ruptures is seen as an important sign of a trauma of significant degree. Although infantile SDB undoubtedly can result from accidental as well as intentional injuries, and therefore, the SDB itself does not allow far-reaching conclusions as to the cause of injury, the presence of several BV ruptures combined with an SDB of insignificant volume, in an infant dead or in a deep coma on clinical presentation, is not compatible with the supposition of a minor fall as the cause. We have not observed such findings as the result of a minor accidental event for more than 15 years.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, Germany. Maxrmed@zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maxeiner
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D002423:Cause of Death; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012421:Rupture