Child Abuse Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Child Abuse, including details on family violence, examinations, long-term effects, psychiatrics disorders.

Subgaleal hematoma in child abuse.

Seifert D, Püschel K

Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529 Hamburg, Germany.

The mother brought her 31/2-year-old son to a paediatric clinic as his forehead was swollen and bluish in appearance. She was unable to give any explanation for this lesion. Clinically it was noted that a very visible and also palpable, doughy swelling was present both in the forehead as well as the hard skull areas. Some hours later, a massive bilateral periocular haematoma appeared. Whilst X-rays were unable to provide any diagnostic help, the sonographic examination of the skull carried out on the same day revealed an extensive subgaleal haematoma. This phenomenon is described in radiological literature as "scalping" and is caused by the use of considerable, blunt violence against the head (shear stresses, e.g. by pulling at the hair). The mother's boyfriend later confessed forceful pulling of the hair.

Published 20 February 2006 in Forensic Sci Int, 157(2): 131-3.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Child Abuse Research Today. All Rights Reserved.