title: Serious head injury in young children: birth trauma versus non-accidental head injury.
abstract: Birth injury of the skull and central nervous system can be a complication of a difficult delivery, especially following forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery. Birth trauma of the head can also mimic the appearance of a non-accidental head injury and is therefore an important differential diagnosis. We report on two young infants with serious head injuries. The difficult differential diagnosis birth trauma versus non-accidental head injury is discussed and the necessity for cooperation between clinicians, forensic doctors and specialized neuroradiologists is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Hannover Medical School, Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bode-Jänisch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bültmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: J E W
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zajaczek
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Debertin
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007568:Jaw / Q000293:injuries; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014620:Vacuum Extraction, Obstetrical