whiplash shaken infant syndrome

whiplash shaken infant syndrome

Shaken baby syndrome Forensic medicine A form of child abuse that may be either fatal or leave permanent neurologic sequelae; severe shaking of an infant who has virtually no neck muscle tone may cause bilateral subdural hematomas, due to laceration of veins bridging the dura mater and cerebral cortex caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration as the chin strikes the chest and the occipital bone strikes the back, subarachnoid and retinal hemorrhage, cerebral edema and cortical contusions without signs of external cranial trauma. See Battered child syndrome, Bucket handle fracture. Cf Infanticide.