Risk Of Abusive Head Trauma Research Articles

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries in children of abuse

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries in children of abuse

Computer Algorithms Support Physician Decisions in Traumatic Head Injury.

Computer Algorithms Support Physician Decisions in Traumatic Head Injury.

Preventing abusive head trauma: can educating parents reduce the incidence?

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the most lethal form of child abuse; preventing AHT should be a national priority, but research into this area is woefully underfunded. Prevention programs have primarily focused on universal parent education during the neonatal period, a time when parents are a captive audience of the health care establishment whose focus is on the needs of their newborn infant, and who will soon be exposed to the frustration and anger of infant crying. Research has suggested a strong causal link between infant crying and AHT, and parents - particularly fathers and father figures - have been identified as the most common perpetrators of AHT. A number of studies have suggested that educating parents during the postnatal period about the normalcy of inconsolable infant crying and its evolution over the first several months of postnatal life improves parental knowledge about infant crying and a number of positive parenting behaviors, and decreases emergency room visits for crying. In 1998, we began a pilot program in Upstate New York near Buffalo that led to a 47% reduction in AHT incidence. Similar studies have demonstrated 35-75% reductions in incidence, which has led to enthusiasm for this approach to preventing AHT. We, as well as another group, have enacted statewide programs in Pennsylvania and North Carolina; unfortunately, these two large statewide replication trials failed to demonstrate any impact of such an intervention on AHT rates. Serial messages for parents, provided repeatedly over the period of greatest risk for AHT, might be another avenue of research.

Intimate Partner Violence, Clinical Indications, and Other Family Risk Factors Associated With Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma.

Over half of fatal pediatric traumatic brain injuries are estimated to be the result of physical abuse, i.e., abusive head trauma (AHT). Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is a well-established risk for child maltreatment, little is known about IPV as an associated risk factor specifically for AHT. We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of all patients (0-17 years) diagnosed at a Level 1 pediatric trauma center with head trauma who had been referred to an in-hospital child protection team for suspicion of AHT between 2010 and 2016. Data on patient demographics, hospitalization, injury, family characteristics, sociobehavioral characteristics, physical examination, laboratory findings, imaging, discharge, and forensic determination of AHT were extracted from the institution's forensic registry. Descriptive statistics (mean, median), chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare patients with fatal head injuries to patients with nonfatal head injuries by clinical characteristics, family characteristics, and forensic determination. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios for the presence of IPV as an associated risk of AHT while controlling for other clinical and family factors. Of 804 patients with suspicion for AHT in the forensic registry, there were 240 patients with a forensic determination of AHT; 42 injuries were fatal. There were 101 families with a reported history of IPV; 64.4% of patients in families with reported IPV were <12 months of age. IPV was associated with a twofold increase in the risk of AHT (Exp(β) = 2.3 [p = .02]). This study confirmed IPV was an associated risk factor for AHT in a single institution cohort of pediatric patients with both fatal and nonfatal injuries. Identifying IPV along with other family factors may improve detection and surveillance of AHT in medical settings and help reduce injury, disability, and death.

Differences in Facial Fracture Patterns in Pediatric Nonaccidental Trauma.

The purpose of this study was to characterize differences in facial fracture injury patterns among pediatric patients at highest risk of abusive head trauma/nonaccidental trauma (age ≤ 5 years). Using the National Trauma Databank from 2007 to 2015, patients (age ≤ 5 years) suffering facial fractures were included. Demographics and injury characteristics were compared between those sustaining accidental versus nonaccidental trauma (NAT). Over 9 years 9741 patients were included with 193 patients (2.0%) suffering NAT. Nonaccidental trauma patients were younger (median [interquartile range]; 0 [0, 2] versus 3 [1, 4], P < 0.001), and more frequently were insured by Medicaid (76.7% versus 41.9%, P < 0.001). NAT patients were more likely to sustain mandible fractures (38.9% versus 21.1%, P < 0.001), but less likely to sustain maxilla (9.8% versus 18.3%, P = 0.003), or orbital fractures (31.1% versus 53.4%, P < 0.001). Nonaccidental trauma patients had fewer instances of multiple facial fracture sites (8.9% versus 22.6%, P < 0.001). Among those sustaining mandible fractures, NAT patients were more likely to sustain condylar fractures (75.8% versus 48.4%, P < 0.001), but less likely to sustain subcondylar fractures (0% versus 13.2%, P = 0.002), or angle fractures (1.6 versus 8.7%, P = 0.048). Differences exist in facial fracture patterns in accidental versus nonaccidental trauma within the pediatric population at highest risk for abusive head trauma. Specifically, NAT is associated with fractures of the mandibular condyle and involve fewer facial fracture sites. In the appropriate context, presence of these fractures/patterns should increase suspicion for NAT.

Implementation of a brain injury screen MRI for infants at risk for abusive head trauma.

Head computed tomography (CT) is the current standard of care for evaluating infants at high risk of abusive head trauma. To both assess the feasibility of using a previously developed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain injury screen (MRBRscreen) in the acute care setting in place of head CT to identify intracranial hemorrhage in high-risk infants and to compare the accuracy of a rapid imaging pulse sequence (single-shot T2 fast spin echo [ssT2FSE]) to a conventional pulse sequence (conventional T2 fast spin echo [conT2FSE]). This was a quality improvement initiative to evaluate infants <12months of age who were screened for intracranial hemorrhage using an MRBRscreen as part of clinical care. The MRBRscreen included axial conT2FSE, axial gradient recalled echo, coronal T1-weighted inversion recovery, axial diffusion-weighted image and an axial ssT2FSE. A comparison of ssT2FSE to conT2FSE with respect to lesion detection was also performed. Of 158 subjects, the MRBRscreen was able to be completed in 155 (98%); 9% (14/155) were abnormal. Ninety-four percent (137/145) of subjects underwent only an MRBRscreen and avoided both radiation from head CT and sedation from MRI. The axial ssT2FSE and conT2FSE results were congruent 99% of the time. An MRBRscreen in place of a head CT is feasible and potentially could decrease head CT use by more than 90% in this population. Using a rapid ssT2FSE in place of a conT2FSE can reduce total scan time without losing lesion detection. If an MRBRscreen is readily available, physicians' threshold to perform neuroimaging may be lowered and lead to earlier detection of abusive head trauma.

Do data from child protective services and the police enhance modelling of perinatal risk for paediatric abusive head trauma? A retrospective case-control study

ObjectivesFirst, to investigate whether there is a relationship between a family being known to child protective services or police at the time of birth and the risk of abusive head...

Assessment of Maternal Knowledge and Confidence About Abusive Head Trauma and Coping With Infant Crying Before and After Infant Safety Education in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Infants with a history of perinatal illness are at higher risk for abusive head trauma (AHT). Crying is a common trigger for physical abuse, and education on coping with infant crying is an important component of AHT prevention. This study assesses the effects of education in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on mothers' knowledge about AHT and infant crying, self-efficacy in applying the education to infant cares and providing the education to others, and the quality of AHT and infant crying education after discharge. Mothers received a standardized education program about AHT and infant crying and completed a preeducation survey, posteducation survey, and 4- to 5-month follow-up survey. Overall, there was a sustained increase in knowledge (P < .001) and confidence (P < .001). Mothers who received verbal education reported a higher increase in confidence (P = .03). Few received information from healthcare providers about crying (35%) and AHT (20%) after discharge. At follow-up survey, most felt highly confident in their ability to share information about AHT (97%) and calm their infant (95%). Most had shared the education with others (77%). Education on AHT and crying in the NICU can produce sustained increases in mothers' knowledge and confidence, but the effectiveness may be improved by addressing unique barriers to education in this population.

Clinical prediction rules for abusive head trauma: a systematic review

ObjectiveMisdiagnosis of abusive head trauma (AHT) has serious consequences for children and families. This systematic review identifies and compares clinical prediction rules (CPredRs) assisting clinicians in assessing suspected AHT.DesignWe searched...

Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Bias in the Evaluation and Reporting of Abusive Head Trauma

To characterize racial and ethnic disparities in the evaluation and reporting of suspected abusive head trauma (AHT) across the 18 participating sites of the Pediatric Brain Injury Research Network (PediBIRN). We hypothesized that such disparities would be confirmed at multiple sites and occur more frequently in patients with a lower risk for AHT. Aggregate and site-specific analysis of the cross-sectional PediBIRN dataset, comparing AHT evaluation and reporting frequencies in subpopulations of white/non-Hispanic and minority race/ethnicity patients with lower vs higher risk for AHT. In the PediBIRN study sample of 500 young, acutely head-injured patients hospitalized for intensive care, minority race/ethnicity patients (n = 229) were more frequently evaluated (P < .001; aOR, 2.2) and reported (P = .001; aOR, 1.9) for suspected AHT than white/non-Hispanic patients (n = 271). These disparities occurred almost exclusively in lower risk patients, including those ultimately categorized as non-AHT (P = .001 [aOR, 2.4] and P = .003 [aOR, 2.1]) or with an estimated AHT probability of ≤25% (P <.001 [aOR, 4.1] and P <.001 [aOR, 2.8]). Similar site-specific analyses revealed that these results reflected more extreme disparities at only 2 of 18 sites, and were not explained by local confounders. Significant race/ethnicity-based disparities in AHT evaluation and reporting were observed at only 2 of 18 sites and occurred almost exclusively in lower risk patients. In the absence of local confounders, these disparities likely represent the impact of local physicians' implicit bias.

Perinatal Risk and Protective Factors for Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma: A Multicenter Case-Control Study

To estimate associations between factors recorded in pregnancy and the first week of life and subsequent abusive head trauma. Multicenter, retrospective case-control study of perinatal records from 142 cases of abusive head trauma and 550 controls, matched by date and hospital of birth from 1991 to 2010. Multiple logistic regression assessed the relationship between perinatal exposures and abusive head trauma. The risk of abusive head trauma decreased with increasing maternal age (OR, 0.91 per year; 95% CI 0.85-0.97) and increasing gestational age at birth (OR 0.79 per week; 95% CI 0.69-0.91). Mothers of cases were more likely to be Māori (OR 4.61; 95% CI 1.98-10.78), to be single (OR 5.10; 95% CI 1.83-14.23), have recorded social concerns (OR 4.29; 95% CI 1.32-13.91), and have missing data for antenatal care, partner status, social concerns, and substance abuse (OR 13.53; 95% CI 2.39-76.47). Case mothers were more likely not to take supplements in pregnancy (OR 3.53; 95% CI 1.30-9.54), to have membrane rupture longer than 48 hours before delivery (OR 13.01; 95% CI 2.84-59.68), and to formula feed (OR for mixed breast and formula feeding 6.06; 95% CI 2.39-15.36) before postnatal discharge (median 3 days). Factors associated with subsequent abusive head trauma can be identified from routine perinatal records. Targeted interventions initiated perinatally could possibly prevent some cases of abusive head trauma. However, any plans for targeted prevention strategies should consider not only those with identified risk factors but also those for which data are missing.

Radiologic head CT interpretation errors in pediatric abusive and non-abusive head trauma patients.

Pediatric head trauma, including abusive head trauma, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this research was to identify and evaluate radiologic interpretation errors of head CTs performed on abusive and non-abusive pediatric head trauma patients from a community setting referred for a secondary interpretation at a tertiary pediatric hospital. A retrospective search identified 184 patients <5years of age with head CT for known or potential head trauma who had a primary interpretation performed at a referring community hospital by a board-certified radiologist. Two board-certified fellowship-trained neuroradiologists at an academic pediatric hospital independently interpreted the head CTs, compared their interpretations to determine inter-reader discrepancy rates, and resolved discrepancies to establish a consensus second interpretation. The primary interpretation was compared to the consensus second interpretation using the RADPEER™ scoring system to determine the primary interpretation-second interpretation overall and major discrepancy rates. MRI and/or surgical findings were used to validate the primary interpretation or second interpretation when possible. The diagnosis of abusive head trauma was made using clinical and imaging data by a child abuse specialist to separate patients into abusive head trauma and non-abusive head trauma groups. Discrepancy rates were compared for both groups. Lastly, primary interpretations and second interpretations were evaluated for discussion of imaging findings concerning for abusive head trauma. There were statistically significant differences between primary interpretation-second interpretation versus inter-reader overall and major discrepancy rates (28% vs. 6%, P=0.0001; 16% vs. 1%, P=0.0001). There were significant differences in the primary interpretation-second interpretation overall and major discrepancy rates for abusive head trauma patients compared to non-abusive head trauma patients (41% vs 23%, P=0.02; 26% vs. 12%, P=0.03). The most common findings resulting in major radiologic interpretation errors were fractures and subdural hemorrhage. Differences in the age of the patient and the percentage of patients with hemorrhage were statistically significant between the abusive head trauma versus non-abusive head trauma groups, while no statistical difference was identified for skull fractures, ischemia, head CT radiation dose, or presence of multiplanar or 3-D reformatted images. The second interpretation more frequently indicated potential for abusive head trauma compared to the primary interpretation (P=0.0001). MRI and/or surgical findings were in agreement with the second interpretation in 29/29 (100%) of patients with discrepancies. A high incidence of radiologic interpretation errors may occur in pediatric trauma patients at risk for abusive head trauma who are referred from a community hospital. This suggests value for second interpretations of head CTs at a tertiary pediatric hospital for this patient population.

Derivation and Validation of a Serum Biomarker Panel to Identify Infants With Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage

Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of death from physical abuse. Missing the diagnosis of abusive head trauma, particularly in its mild form, is common and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Serum biomarkers may have potential as quantitative point-of-care screening tools to alert physicians to the possibility of intracranial hemorrhage. To identify and validate a set of biomarkers that could be the basis of a multivariable model to identify intracranial hemorrhage in well-appearing infants using the Ziplex System. Binary logistic regression was used to develop a multivariable model incorporating 3 serum biomarkers (matrix metallopeptidase-9, neuron-specific enolase, and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1) and 1 clinical variable (total hemoglobin). The model was then prospectively validated. Multiplex biomarker measurements were performed using Flow-Thru microarray technology on the Ziplex System, which has potential as a point-of-care system. The model was tested at 3 pediatric emergency departments in level I pediatric trauma centers (Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois) among well-appearing infants who presented for care owing to symptoms that placed them at increased risk of abusive head trauma. The study took place from November 2006 to April 2014 at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, June 2010 to August 2013 at Primary Children's Hospital, and January 2011 to August 2013 at Lurie Children's Hospital. A mathematical model that can predict acute intracranial hemorrhage in infants at increased risk of abusive head trauma. The multivariable model, Biomarkers for Infant Brain Injury Score, was applied prospectively to 599 patients. The mean (SD) age was 4.7 (3.1) months. Fifty-two percent were boys, 78% were white, and 8% were Hispanic. At a cutoff of 0.182, the model was 89.3% sensitive (95% CI, 87.7-90.4) and 48.0% specific (95% CI, 47.3-48.9) for acute intracranial hemorrhage. Positive and negative predictive values were 21.3% and 95.6%, respectively. The model was neither sensitive nor specific for atraumatic brain abnormalities, isolated skull fractures, or chronic intracranial hemorrhage. The Biomarkers for Infant Brain Injury Score, a multivariable model using 3 serum biomarker concentrations and serum hemoglobin, can identify infants with acute intracranial hemorrhage. Accurate and timely identification of intracranial hemorrhage in infants without a history of trauma in whom trauma may not be part of the differential diagnosis has the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality from abusive head trauma.

Development of a screening MRI for infants at risk for abusive head trauma.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is an important cause of morbidity in infants. Identifying which well-appearing infants are at risk for AHT and need neuroimaging is challenging, and concern about radiation exposure limits the use of head CT. Availability of an MRI protocol that is highly sensitive for intracranial hemorrhage would allow for AHT screening of well-appearing infants without exposing them to radiation. To develop a screening MRI protocol to identify intracranial hemorrhage in well-appearing infants at risk for AHT. Infants enrolled in a parent study of well-appearing infants at increased risk for AHT were eligible for the current study if they underwent both head CT and conventional brain MRI. A derivation cohort of nine infants with AHT was used to identify sequences that provided the highest sensitivity for intracranial hemorrhage. A validation cohort of 78 infants including both controls with normal neuroimaging and cases with AHT was used to evaluate the accuracy of the selected sequences. Three pulse sequences - axial T2, axial gradient recalled echo (GRE) and coronal T1-W inversion recovery - were 100% sensitive for intracranial hemorrhage in the derivation cohort. The same sequences were 100% sensitive (25/25) and 83% specific (44/53) for intracranial hemorrhage in the validation cohort. A screening MRI protocol including axial T2, axial GRE and coronal T1-W inversion recovery sequences is highly sensitive for intracranial hemorrhage and may be useful as a screening tool to differentiate well-appearing infants at risk for AHT who should undergo head CT from those who can safely be discharged without head CT. Additional research is needed to evaluate the feasibility of this approach in clinical practice.

Serum D-Dimer Concentrations Are Increased after Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

To determine whether D-dimer would be increased in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI), specifically mild abusive head trauma. D-dimer was measured using multiplex bead technology in 195 children <4 years old (n = 93 controls without TBI, n = 102 cases with TBI) using previously collected serum. D-dimer was then measured prospectively in a clinical setting in 44 children (n = 24 controls, n = 20 cases). Receiver operator curves were generated for prospective data. In both the retrospective and prospective cohorts, median (25th-75th percentile) D-dimer was significantly higher in cases vs controls. A receiver operator curve demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.91 (95% CI 0.83-0.99) in the prospective cohort. At a cut-off of 0.59 μg/L, the sensitivity and specificity for identification of a case was 90% and 75%, respectively. Our data suggest that serum D-dimer may be able to be used to identify which young children at risk for abusive head trauma might benefit from a head computed tomography or other additional evaluation. Additional data are needed to better identify the clinical scenarios that may result in false positive or false negative D-dimer concentrations.

Association of perpetrator relationship to abusive head trauma clinical outcomes

The diagnosis of abusive head trauma (AHT) remains a significant public health problem with limited prevention success. Providing protection from further harm is often challenged by the difficulty in identifying the alleged perpetrator (AP) responsible for this pediatric trauma. The objective of this study was to evaluate demographic and clinical characteristics of children with AHT and the relationship between APs and their victims in a large, multi-site sample. Understanding the AHT risks from various caregivers may help to inform current prevention strategies. A retrospective review of all cases of AHT diagnosed by child protection teams (CPT) from 1/1/04 to 6/30/09 at four children's hospitals was conducted. Clinical characteristics of children with AHT injured by non-parental perpetrators (NPP) were compared to parental perpetrators (PP). There were 459 children with AHT; 313 (68%) had an identified AP. The majority of the 313 children were <1 year of age (76%), Caucasian (63%), male (58%), receiving public assistance (80%), and presented without a history of trauma (62%); mortality was 19%. Overall, APs were: father (53%), parent partner (22%), mother (8%), babysitter (8%), other adult caregiver (5%); NPP accounted for 39% of APs. NPPs were more likely to cause AHT in children ≥1 year (77% vs. 23%, p<0.001) compared to PP. Independent associations to NPP included: older child, absence of a history of trauma, retinal hemorrhages, and male perpetrator gender. While fathers were the most common AP in AHT victims, there is a significant association for increased risk of AHT by NPPs in the older child, who presents with retinal hemorrhages, in the hands of a male AP. Further enhancement of current prevention strategies to address AHT risks of non-parental adults who provide care to children, especially in the post-infancy age seems warranted.

Characteristics of fatal abusive head trauma among children in the USA: 2003–2007: an application of the CDC operational case definition to national vital statistics data

ObjectiveIn March of 2008, an expert panel was convened at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop code-based case definitions for abusive head trauma (AHT) in children under...

Abusive Head Trauma in Children Presenting with an Apparent Life-Threatening Event

To identify rates of abusive head trauma and associated clinical risk factors in patients with an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). Retrospective study of infants, 0 to 12 months, admitted for an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE; 1999-2003). Patients with abusive head trauma were identified at presentation or on follow-up; statistical analysis identified characteristics associated with abusive head trauma. Of 627 patients with ALTE, 48% were male. Nine (1.4%) were diagnosed with abusive head trauma, of whom 5 were diagnosed in the emergency department. All cases detected in the emergency department had physical examination findings indicative of abusive head trauma. Patient age, male sex, or ethnicity were not significantly different between those with and without abusive head trauma. More children with abusive head trauma had a documented 911 call (56% vs 22%, P = .029), vomiting (56% vs 19%, P = .018), or irritability (22% vs 3%, P = .033). Multivariate analysis revealed odds ratio for abusive head trauma were 4.9 with a 911 call (P = .037), 5.3 with vomiting (P = .024), and 11.9 with irritability (P = .0197). Abusive head trauma is in the differential for infants with an ALTE, although almost half of the cases are missed by current emergency department management. Vomiting, irritability, or a call to 911 are significantly associated with heightened risk for abusive head trauma.

Establishing a register of children with special needs.

<h3>Objective</h3> In March of 2008, an expert panel was convened at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop code-based case definitions for abusive head trauma (AHT) in children under 5 years of age based on the <i>International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision</i> (<i>ICD-10</i>) nature and cause of injury codes. This study presents the operational case definition and applies it to US death data. <h3>Methods</h3> National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System data on multiple cause-of-death from 2003 to 2007 were examined. <h3>Results</h3> Inspection of records with at least one <i>ICD-10</i> injury/disease code and at least one <i>ICD-10</i> cause code from the AHT case definition resulted in the identification of 780 fatal AHT cases, with 699 classified as definite/presumptive AHT and 81 classified as probable AHT. The fatal AHT rate was highest among children age &lt;1 year with a peak in incidence that occurred at 1–2 months of age. Fatal AHT incidence rates were higher for men than women and were higher for non-Hispanic African–Americans compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Fatal AHT incidence was relatively constant across seasons. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This report demonstrates that the definition can help to identify population subgroups at higher risk for AHT defined by year and month of death, age, sex and race/ethnicity. This type of definition may be useful for various epidemiological applications including research and surveillance. These activities can in turn inform further development of prevention activities, including educating parents about the dangers of shaking and strategies for managing infant crying.