Stanford Pediatric Grand Rounds: Controversies in Abusive Head Trauma

Controversies in Abusive Head Trauma
Christopher Greeley, MD - Baylor College of Medicine
Session Description
Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), historically called “Shaken Baby Syndrome”, is a condition in which a young child (usually in the first year of life) is injured by violent force by a caretaker. The clinical findings include: injury to the brain, fractures (typically to the ribs and growth plates of the bones), bleeding in the eyes and external injury (bruising). Over the past decade there have been news reports indicating that the existence of AHT has been questioned in the courtroom. This talk will discuss the science behind AHT and frame some of the criticisms raised in the courtroom and in the media.
Education Goals
To appreciate the scope of the medical/legal debate surrounding Abusive Head Trauma (“shaken baby syndrome”)
Understand some of the criticisms of the theory of Abusive Head Trauma which are raised in the legal setting and the medical literature used to support the skeptical position
Appreciate the role of high quality medical literature appraisal in the medico-legal setting