Abstract

BONILLA MONTERO, Raúl A; VARGAS SANABRIA, Maikel  and  MORA GUEVARA, Alejandro. Shaken baby syndrome: anatomoclinic features. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 2006, vol.23, n.1, pp.103-112. ISSN 2215-5287.

The shaken baby syndrome is one of the most severe presentations of child abuse that is seen in children especially under the first year of age. The great vulnerability of this group of patients and the serious consequences that they may encounter in the future, including death, are enough reason to inquire, during the clinical approach, about the possibility that the patient being attended may be a victim of physical abuse. From a medico-legal evaluation, it is pertinent to document and describe thoroughly the physical lesions in the living patient and in cases of homicide, in order to contribute scientifically in the administration of justice. For that reason it is essential to follow a uniform methodology in the management of both the clinical and the forensic assessment. This article reviews the usual clinical presentation of the shaken baby syndrome and proposes a basic guide to evaluate the autopsies in cases of deaths originated by this cause.

Keywords : shaken baby syndrome; medico-legal autopsy; child abuse; retinal hemorrhages; subdural haematoma; diffuse axonal injury.

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