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CORE – INFO: Head and spinal injuries in children

This leaflet summarises what is currently known about the clinical presentation
of inflicted head and spinal injuries in children and will be of particular interest
to A&E staff, paediatricians, general practitioners, health visitors, child
protection conference chairs, safeguarding leads, children’s services team
managers, independent reviewing officers, local authority designated officers,
children’s social workers, police and legal practitioners.
The information is based on a systematic review of all the quality work in the
world literature about inflicted head and spinal injuries in children; full details
are available at: www.core-info.cardiff.ac.uk

What do we know about inflicted head injuries in children?
Inflicted head injuries that involve injury to the brain or bleeding within the
structures around the brain are the most serious form of physical child abuse,
and they have some of the most severe consequences for the child’s future
well-being. They are the leading cause of death among children who have
been abused.

Brain injury may arise from shaking, shaking and impact, or impact injuries.
The condition occurs most commonly in children less than two years of age,
with an estimated prevalence of 1:3,000 in babies of less than six months.
Boys appear to suffer more head injuries than girls, from any cause. Apart from
children who die as a result of an inflicted head injury, those who survive may
have significant long-term disabilities: 31 to 45 per cent experience ongoing
problems – including cerebral palsy, visual problems, epilepsy, learning and
behavioural problems.

More information