Physical Effects

Figure 1. The range of motion of an infant's head in the forward to backward plane during a shaking event.

Reprinted with permission from Lauridson J, Levin A, Parrish R, Wicks A. 2002. Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Visual Overview. (Version 2.0) [Animated CD ROM], Ogden, Utah: The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Figure 2. Note the location of the sagittal sinus and the bridging veins where subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages occur in a shaking event.

Reprinted with permission from Lauridson J, Levin A, Parrish R, Wicks A. 2002. Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Visual Overview. (Version 2.0) [Animated CD ROM], Ogden, Utah: The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Subdural Hematoma (Hemorrhage)

Figure 8. (A) This computerized tomography (CT) scan of the brain, obtained immediately following a shaking event, shows significant cerebral edema. Due to brain swelling, the gray and white matter of the brain are unable to be differentiated. The reddened areas signify fresh blood between the brain hemispheres. (B) shows the same brain, scanned 3 months after the shaking event. The dark area shows areas of brain loss. The child did not survive.

Reprinted with permission from Lauridson J, Levin A, Parrish R, Wicks A. 2002. Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Visual Overview. (Version 2.0) [Animated CD ROM], Ogden, Utah: The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Figure 3. (A) Retinal hemorrhages in the Ora Serrata are generally caused by infant shaking and not by accidental trauma or other disease processes. (B) Circular hemorrhages in the deep layers of the retina are called dot and blot hemorrhages. Dot hemorrhages are smaller than blot hemorrhages.

Reprinted with permission from Lauridson J, Levin A, Parrish R, Wicks A. 2002. Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Visual Overview. (Version 2.0) [Animated CD ROM], Ogden, Utah: The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Figure 7. Illustrates the narrow chest wall, and risk for rib fractures, when the chest is squeezed tightly during a shaking event.

Reprinted with permission from Lauridson J, Levin A, Parrish R, Wicks A. 2002. Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Visual Overview. (Version 2.0) [Animated CD ROM], Ogden, Utah: The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.