"Shaken Baby Syndrome"
A Tutorial and Review of the Literature

The standard diagnosis/charge of "Shaken Baby Syndrome" (SBS) occurs when a child is admitted to an emergency room with 1) subdural hematomas, 2) retinal hemorrhages, and 3) a history other than that of a motor vehicle accident or a fall from an appreciable height. Some have referred to this as the "Shaken Baby Triad." The original theory of the American Academy of Pediatrics and most Children's Hospitals across the nation was that these signs and symptoms were exclusively found in nonaccidental trauma. However, evidence based research on childhood subdurals has shown that there are multiple disorders or accidental injuries which mimic the symptoms once thought to be exclusively those of "Shaken Baby Syndrome." This tutorial looks at the research surrounding childhood head trauma and our ability to differentiate between nonaccidental trauma and alternate explanations.