Predictive value of clinical and radiological findings in inflicted traumatic brain injury

Developmental Outcomes Following Abusive Head Trauma in Infancy: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify measures used to evaluate developmental outcomes after abusive head trauma (AHT), as well as describe outcomes among those with AHT, and explore factors and interventions influencing such outcomes.

DESIGN

This systematic review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The protocol is in PROSPERO, registration number CRD42020179592. On April 17, 2020, OVID Medline, Embase, OVID PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched (since inception). Inclusion criteria included original, peer-reviewed study data; AHT exposure; infants younger than 24 months at time of AHT; and evaluation of developmental outcomes. Reviewers independently evaluated studies for inclusion and assessed risk of bias using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. A descriptive synthesis approach was utilized as variability of study designs, follow-up periods, and outcome assessment tools precluded a meta-analytic approach.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine studies were included; 115 assessment tools were used to evaluate developmental outcomes; and 42 studies examined factors influencing outcomes. Two studies evaluated interventions. Five percent of studies ( n = 3) were rated low risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Notable variation was observed in terms of case ascertainment criteria. Developmental outcomes after AHT have been assessed in a manner that limits understanding of how AHT impacts development, as well as the efficacy of interventions intended to improve outcomes. Researchers and clinicians are encouraged to adopt consistent diagnostic and assessment approaches.

Long-term impact of abusive head trauma in young children: Outcomes at 5 and 11 years old

BACKGROUND

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young children. We aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of AHT.

METHODS

Using administrative claims from 2000-2018, children <3 years old with documented AHT who had follow-up through ages 5 and 11 years were identified. The primary outcome was incidence of neurodevelopmental disability and the secondary outcome was the effect of age at time of AHT on long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

  1,165 children were identified with follow-up through age 5; 358 also had follow-up through age 11.  The incidence of neurodevelopmental disability was 68.0% (792/1165) at 5 years of age and 81.6% (292/358) at 11 years of age.  The incidence of disability significantly increased for the 358 children followed from 5 to 11 years old (+14.3 percentage points, p<0.0001).  Children <1 year old at the time of AHT were more likely to develop disabilities when compared to 2 year olds.

CONCLUSIONS

AHT is associated with significant long-term disability by age 5 and the incidence increased by age 11 years.  There is an association between age at time of AHT and long-term outcomes. Efforts to improve comprehensive follow-up as children continue to age is important.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Shaken Baby Syndrome: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features in Abusive Head Trauma

In the context of child abuse spectrum, abusive head trauma (AHT) represents the leading cause of fatal head injuries in children less than 2 years of age. Immature brain is characterized by high water content, partially myelinated neurons, and prominent subarachnoid space, thus being susceptible of devastating damage as consequence of acceleration-deceleration and rotational forces developed by violent shaking mechanism. Diagnosis of AHT is not straightforward and represents a medical, forensic, and social challenge, based on a multidisciplinary approach. Beside a detailed anamnesis, neuroimaging is essential to identify signs suggestive of AHT, often in absence of external detectable lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents the radiation-free modality of choice to investigate the most typical findings in AHT, such as subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhage, and hypoxic-ischemic damage and it also allows to detect more subtle signs as parenchymal lacerations, cranio-cervical junction, and spinal injuries. This paper is intended to review the main MRI findings of AHT in the central nervous system of infants, with a specific focus on both hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic injuries caused by the pathological mechanisms of shaking. Furthermore, this review provides a brief overview about the most appropriate and feasible MRI protocol to help neuroradiologists identifying AHT in clinical practice.

Long-term impact of abusive head trauma in young children

OBJECTIVE

Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of physical abuse deaths in children under the age of 5 and is associated with severe long-lasting health problems and developmental disabilities. This study evaluates the long-term impact of AHT and identifies factors associated with poor long-term outcomes (LTOs).

METHODS

We used the Truven Health MarketScan Research Claims Database (2000-2015) to identify children diagnosed with AHT and follow them up until they turn 5. We identified the incidence of behavioral disorders, communication deficits, developmental delays, epilepsy, learning disorders, motor deficits, and visual impairment as our primary outcomes.

RESULTS

The incidence of any disability was 72% (676/940) at 5 years post-injury. The rate of developmental delays was 47%, followed by 42% learning disorders, and 36% epilepsy. Additional disabilities included motor deficits (34%), behavioral disorders (30%), visual impairment (30%), and communication deficits (11%). Children covered by Medicaid experienced significantly greater long-term disability than cases with private insurance. In a propensity-matched cohort that differ primarily by insurance, the risk of behavioral disorders (RD 36%), learning disorders (RD 30%), developmental delays (RD 30%), epilepsy (RD 18%), and visual impairment (RD 12%) was significantly higher in children with Medicaid than kids with private insurance.

CONCLUSION

AHT is associated with a significant long-term disability (72%). Children insured by Medicaid have a disproportionally higher risk of long-term disability. Efforts to identify and reduce barriers to health care access for children enrolled in Medicaid are critical for the improvement of outcomes and quality of life.

Prognostic factors of acute neurological outcomes in infants with traumatic brain injury

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to clarify risk factors for poor neurological outcomes and distinctive characteristics in infants with traumatic brain injury.

METHODS

The study retrospectively reviewed data of 166 infants with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage from three tertiary institutions in Japan between 2002 and 2013. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify clinical symptoms, vital signs, physical findings, and computed tomography findings associated with poor neurological outcomes at discharge from the intensive care unit.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, bradypnea, tachycardia, hypotension, dyscoria, retinal hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, cerebral edema, and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≤ 12 were significantly associated with poor neurological outcomes (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, a GCS score of ≤ 12 (OR = 130.7; 95% CI, 7.3-2323.2; P < 0.001), cerebral edema (OR = 109.1; 95% CI, 7.2-1664.1; P < 0.001), retinal hemorrhage (OR = 7.2; 95% CI, 1.2-42.1; P = 0.027), and Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 score (OR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3; P = 0.018) were independently associated with poor neurological outcomes. Incidence of bradypnea in infants with a GCS score of ≤ 12 (25/42) was significantly higher than that in infants with GCS score of > 12 (27/90) (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with a GCS score of ≤ 12 are likely to have respiratory disorders associated with traumatic brain injury. Physiological disorders may easily lead to secondary brain injury, resulting in poor neurological outcomes. Secondary brain injury should be prevented through early interventions based on vital signs and the GCS score.

Management of severe traumatic brain injury (first 24hours)

The latest French Guidelines for the management in the first 24hours of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were published in 1998. Due to recent changes (intracerebral monitoring, cerebral perfusion pressure management, treatment of raised intracranial pressure), an update was required. Our objective has been to specify the significant developments since 1998. These guidelines were conducted by a group of experts for the French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société francaise d'anesthésie et de réanimation [SFAR]) in partnership with the Association de neuro-anesthésie-réanimation de langue française (ANARLF), The French Society of Emergency Medicine (Société française de médecine d'urgence (SFMU), the Société française de neurochirurgie (SFN), the Groupe francophone de réanimation et d'urgences pédiatriques (GFRUP) and the Association des anesthésistes-réanimateurs pédiatriques d'expression française (ADARPEF). The method used to elaborate these guidelines was the Grade^® method. After two Delphi rounds, 32 recommendations were formally developed by the experts focusing on the evaluation the initial severity of traumatic brain injury, the modalities of prehospital management, imaging strategies, indications for neurosurgical interventions, sedation and analgesia, indications and modalities of cerebral monitoring, medical management of raised intracranial pressure, management of multiple trauma with severe traumatic brain injury, detection and prevention of post-traumatic epilepsia, biological homeostasis (osmolarity, glycaemia, adrenal axis) and paediatric specificities.

Extended follow-up of neurological, cognitive, behavioral and academic outcomes after severe abusive head trauma

Studies about long-term outcome following abusive head trauma (AHT) are scarce. The aims of this study were to report long-term neurological, cognitive, behavioral and academic outcomes, ongoing treatments and/or rehabilitation, several years after AHT diagnosis, and factors associated with outcome. In this retrospective study, all patients admitted to a single rehabilitation unit following AHT between 1996 and 2005, with subsequent follow-up exceeding 3 years, were included. Medical files were reviewed and a medical interview was performed with parents on the phone when possible. The primary outcome measure was the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Forty-seven children (out of 66) met the inclusion criteria (mean age at injury 5.7 months; SD=3.2). After a median length of follow-up of 8 years (range 3.7-12), only seven children (15%) had "good outcome" (normal life - GOS I) and 19 children (40%) presented with severe neurological impairment (GOS III and IV). Children sustained epilepsy (38%), motor deficits (45%), visual deficit (45%), sleep disorders (17%), language abnormalities (49%), attention deficits (79%) and behavioral disorders (53%). Most children (83%) had ongoing rehabilitation. Only 30% followed a normal curriculum, whereas 30% required special education services. Children with better overall outcome (GOS I and II) had significantly higher educated mothers than those with worse outcomes (GOS III and IV): graduation from high school 59% and 21% respectively (p=0.006). This study highlights the high rate of severe sequelae and health care needs several years post-AHT, and emphasizes the need for extended follow-up of medical, cognitive and academic outcomes.

Shaken Baby Syndrome: a review

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs in infants as a result of the brain pushing against the skull due to severe acceleration-deceleration forces. Symptoms of Shaken Baby Syndrome include subdural, subarachnoid, and retinal hemorrhages. MRI and ocular examinations are used to determine the extent of mental and visual damage and β-amyloid precursor protein immunohistochemical staining is used to detect axonal injuries. Surgeries such as Subdural hemorrhage (SDH) evacuation surgery and the Burr hole craniotomy are used to treat Shaken Baby Syndrome; however, the prognosis is poor in many cases. Because of the severity of Shaken Baby Syndrome and its traumatic and sometimes fatal effects, it is important to educate new parents, nurses, and doctors on the syndrome in order to prevent incidents.

Long-term outcome of abusive head trauma

Abusive head trauma is a severe inflicted traumatic brain injury, occurring under the age of 2 years, defined by an acute brain injury (mostly subdural or subarachnoidal haemorrhage), where no history or no compatible history with the clinical presentation is given. The mortality rate is estimated at 20-25% and outcome is extremely poor. High rates of impairments are reported in a number of domains, such as delayed psychomotor development; motor deficits (spastic hemiplegia or quadriplegia in 15-64%); epilepsy, often intractable (11-32%); microcephaly with corticosubcortical atrophy (61-100%); visual impairment (18-48%); language disorders (37-64%), and cognitive, behavioral and sleep disorders, including intellectual deficits, agitation, aggression, tantrums, attention deficits, memory, inhibition or initiation deficits (23-59%). Those combined deficits have obvious consequences on academic achievement, with high rates of special education in the long term. Factors associated with worse outcome include demographic factors (lower parental socioeconomic status), initial severe presentation (e.g., presence of a coma, seizures, extent of retinal hemorrhages, presence of an associated cranial fracture, extent of brain lesions, cerebral oedema and atrophy). Given the high risk of severe outcome, long-term comprehensive follow-up should be systematically performed to monitor development, detect any problem and implement timely adequate rehabilitation interventions, special education and/or support when necessary. Interventions should focus on children as well as families, providing help in dealing with the child's impairment and support with psychosocial issues. Unfortunately, follow-up of children with abusive head trauma has repeatedly been reported to be challenging, with very high attrition rates.

Risk factors for mortality in children with abusive head trauma

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify risk factors for mortality in a large clinical cohort of children with abusive head trauma.

STUDY DESIGN

Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression models identified demographic, physical examination, and radiologic findings associated with in-hospital mortality of children with abusive head trauma at 4 pediatric centers. An initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8 defined severe abusive head trauma. Data are shown as OR (95% CI).

RESULTS

Analysis included 386 children with abusive head trauma. Multivariable analysis showed children with initial GCS either 3 or 4-5 had increased mortality vs children with GCS 12-15 (OR = 57.8; 95% CI, 12.1-277.6 and OR = 15.6; 95% CI, 2.6-95.1, respectively, P < .001). Additionally, retinal hemorrhage (RH), intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and cerebral edema were independently associated with mortality. In the subgroup with severe abusive head trauma and RH (n = 117), cerebral edema and initial GCS of 3 or 4-5 were independently associated with mortality. Chronic subdural hematoma was independently associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Low initial GCS score, RH, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and cerebral edema are independently associated with mortality in abusive head trauma. Knowledge of these risk factors may enable researchers and clinicians to improve the care of these vulnerable children.

Predictive value of early radiological findings in inflicted traumatic brain injury

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of early radiological investigations in predicting the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with inflicted traumatic brain injury (ITBI).

METHODS

In 28 patients with ITBI, radiological investigations were performed during the acute phase of injury (0-3 days) and during the early post-injury phase (4 days to 1 month). The clinical outcome in survivors (n = 24) was based on the Glasgow Outcome Score.

RESULTS

Four of 28 infants died and five were severely disabled. Six infants had moderate disability. Detection of changes in the basal ganglia (p < 0.000005) or brainstem (p < 0.01), diffuse oedema (p < 0.005), transtentorial herniation (p < 0.01), subarachnoid haemorrhage (p < 0.05) or parenchymal injury (p < 0.05) by neuroimaging during the first 3 days, and detection of changes in the basal ganglia (p < 0.0005) or brainstem (p < 0.05) or parenchymal injury (p < 0.01) during 1 month were significantly associated with poor long-term outcome.

CONCLUSION

Radiological findings during the first month were significantly associated with the long-term outcome. Especially, basal ganglia lesions were associated with a poor outcome.