婴儿因为自身头身比率较大、颈肌较弱、相对于较年长的儿童缺乏神经髓鞘以及受害者和施暴者体型差异巨大的原因,非常容易出现虐待性头部外伤。
暴力性摇晃会产生一系列头部及视网膜病理学改变。 虐待性头部外伤会产生头皮和颅骨损伤,包括头皮或皮下挫伤、颈部肌肉出血和颅骨骨折。[1]Christian CW, Block R; Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect; American Academy of Pediatrics. Abusive head trauma in infants and children. Pediatrics. 2009 May;123(5):1409-11.http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/123/5/1409http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19403508?tool=bestpractice.com[18]Gerber P, Coffman K. Nonaccidental head trauma in infants. Childs Nerv Syst. 2007 May;23(5):499-507.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17370080?tool=bestpractice.com
可能存在多处颅内发现。硬膜下出血是常见的表现,由直接创伤导致,或者由脑组织在颅骨腔内移位造成桥静脉破裂所引起。神经元损伤的发生由钝力外伤、剪切力损伤和兴奋胺(由死亡脑细胞释放)所致继发性损伤导致。还存在脑血流自动调节丧失和离子稳态失衡。[18]Gerber P, Coffman K. Nonaccidental head trauma in infants. Childs Nerv Syst. 2007 May;23(5):499-507.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17370080?tool=bestpractice.com 多数情况下,颅颈交界区损伤会导致窒息和缺氧性脑损伤。[1]Christian CW, Block R; Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect; American Academy of Pediatrics. Abusive head trauma in infants and children. Pediatrics. 2009 May;123(5):1409-11.http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/123/5/1409http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19403508?tool=bestpractice.com[18]Gerber P, Coffman K. Nonaccidental head trauma in infants. Childs Nerv Syst. 2007 May;23(5):499-507.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17370080?tool=bestpractice.com 脑组织损伤多发生于密度改变区(灰白质交界区),摇晃伤一般比意外伤的损伤部位深。[19]Hymel KP, Makoroff KL, Laskey AL, et al. Mechanisms, clinical presentations, injuries, and outcomes from inflicted versus noninflicted head trauma during infancy: results of a prospective, multicentered, comparative study. Pediatrics. 2007 May;23(5):499-507.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17473092?tool=bestpractice.com 蛛网膜可能被撕裂,导致脑脊液外漏于硬膜下腔,在 CT 或 MRI 上表现为混合密度的硬膜下出血。[20]Zouros A, Bhargava R, Hoskinson M, et al. Further characterization of traumatic subdural collections of infancy. Report of five cases. J Neurosurg. 2004 May;100(5 Suppl Pediatrics):512-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15287465?tool=bestpractice.com
在暴力型摇晃伤中眼科检查发现的大量的视网膜多层广泛出血(可为单侧的或某些病例中为双侧的),被认为是玻璃体牵拉所致。 同时也会有视网膜剥离(从视网膜层的分离)、视神经鞘出血(尸检时发现)以及玻璃体或结膜出血。[21]Mungan NK. Update on shaken baby syndrome: ophthalmology. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2007 Sep;18(5):392-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17700232?tool=bestpractice.com
除此之外,部分病案有躯体虐待并发的挫伤、骨折、腹内脏器伤。 外伤挤压胸壁引起的肋骨骨折和长骨的干骺端角骨折较常见,但不是诊断所必需的症状。