Table 4.
Spinal cord AHT pathological findings: evidence from neuropathology (case series and case reports). Is intracranial SDH associated?
| Study | Cases | Spinal cord injuries | Intracranial SDH in AHT cases | Is intracranial SDH inclusion criteria? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serinelli et al., 2017 [58] |
51 homicide victims (42 AHT) (<3 yo) |
Spinal cord injuries at toracholumbar (33%) > lumbosacral 27.5 > cervical 15.5% | Yes (82.4%) | No |
| Brennan et al., 2009 [36] |
41 AHT and 11 accidental head trauma (<2 yo) |
71% AHT had primary cervical spinal cord injuries: 72% parenchymal, 83% meningeal haemorrhages, 55% nerve roots (avulsion, haemorrhages). | Yes (92%) | No |
| Geddes et al., 2001 (II) [59] |
37 AHT (<9 mo, ma 2.4 mo) 14 non-traumatic (<11 mo, ma 3 mo) |
3/28 AHT showed βAPP positivity in cervical cord and/or dorsal nerve roots 8/28 AHT showed βAPP positivity in the lower pons and medulla 0/14 non-traumatic had βAPP positivity. |
Yes (81%) | No |
| Geddes et al., 2001 (I) [32] | 53 AHT (0.5–97 mo, ma 4 mo) |
3/53 had EDH 3/53 AHT showed βAPP positivity in cervical cord 8 AHT showed βAPP positivity in the lower pons and medulla. |
Yes (81%) | No |
| Saternus et al., 2000 [31] |
4 AHT (shaking only) (3 autopsied and 1 survived) (4–30 mo, ma 13.7 mo) |
1/3 had cervical EDH (dorsal, C2/C3–C5/T2) Survived children had blood-stained CSF. |
Yes (50%) | No |
| Shannon et al., 1998 [60] |
13 AHT (shaken only) (<2 yo, ma 5 mo) 7 hypoxia, 6 sudden asphyxia- children. |
7/11 AHT showed βAPP positivity in cervical cord and in spinal nerve roots, as opposed to none of the control groups. | Yes | No |
| Feldman et al., 1997 [40] |
5 AHT (1.3–34.1 mo, ma 5.8 mo) |
1/5 had SDH at the upper cervical cord, in continuity with cranial SDH 3/5 had SAH at the cervical cord level, in association with similar intracranial findings |
Yes | Yes |
| Hadley et al., 1989 [28] |
13 AHT (shaken only) (ma 3 mo) (6 autopsied) |
5/6 had EDH at cervicomedullary junction 4/6 had SDH at cervicomedullary junction 4/6 had ventral spinal contusions at high cervical levels |
Yes | No |
AHT abusive head trauma, βAPP β amyloid precursor protein, EDH epidural haematoma, yo years old, ma mean age, mo months old, MRI magnetic resonance, SAH subarachnoid haematoma, SDH subdural haematoma