Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms
anterior - the front or facing front or forward.
bi-lateral - two-sided. In shaken baby syndrome, hematomas or retinal hemorrhages are often bi-lateral.
cerebral edema - generalized swelling caused by accumulation of fluid on the brain. This is a common consequence of shaking and often leads to the death of a shaken baby syndrome victim.
child abuse - an injury or pattern of injuries to a child that is non-accidental, including, non-accidental physical injury (including shaken baby syndrome, physical abuse and neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse). Child abuse is against the law.
contra lateral - originating in the opposite side of a point or reference point. Example: in the front of the skull and the back of the skull. In shaken baby syndrome, the injury to the brain is often contra lateral due to the back and forth motion.
contracture - an abnormal, usually permanent condition of the joint characterized by flexion and fixation and caused by atrophy and shortening of the muscle fibers or by the loss of the normal elasticity of the skin. These can occur following an injury from shaken baby syndrome.
contusion - an injury that does not disrupt the integrity of the skin, caused by a blow to the body and characterized by swelling, discoloration and pain (bruise).
diffuse axonal injury - widespread injury (tearing) to the axon, the cylindric extension of a nerve cell that conducts impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axons may be bare or wrapped in myelin. Diffuse axonal injury is a consequence of shaken baby syndrome.
edema - swelling resulting from an excessive of fluid in tissues of the body in any location.
encephalopathy - abnormal condition of the structure or function of the brain.
encephalomalacia - cerebral tissue softening.
extra corporeal membrane oxygenation - oxygenation by a device (EMCO) that oxygenates the blood of a patient outside of the body and returns the blood to the patient=s circulatory system. May be used to support an impaired respiratory system. Some victims who survive SBS are placed on this machine.
flame-shaped retinal hemorrhage - the hemorrhage associated with shaken baby syndrome. The shape is a flame as opposed to a dot, blot or boat-shaped hemorrhage typical of intraretinal or preretinal hemorrhage.
fontanel - The soft spot of an infant’s skull where the bones of the skull have not yet grown together. When increased cranial pressure (ICP) is present the fontanel may be bulging.
hematoma - an area of swelling that contains blood. These can be found in the subdural and subarachnoid space in the brain of victims following a severe shaking episode.
hemorrhage - the escape of blood from vessel; excessive bleeding.
hyperkalemia - greater amounts of potassium than is normal in blood, may result from dietary excess but usually comes from massive tissue damage.
hydrocephalus - a pathologic condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, usually with increased pressure. Results when normal fluid circulation paths are blocked or infection, trauma or brain tumors. Can be treated with a shunt to drain the fluid.
hypoxic encephalopathy - abnormal function of the brain due to the lack of oxygen.
macula - a small spot or colored area that appears separate or different from the surrounding tissue. In the eye the macula lutea is the exact center of the posterior portion of the eye - the center of the visual axis of the eye - the central fovea is in the center of the macula lutea.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - medical imaging that uses radio frequency radiation as its source of energy. MRI can detect brain damage following a violent episode of shaking. Can also detect any previous damage done to the brain.
metaphyseal - at the shaft of the long bones. Fractures here may occur as a result of shaking.
non-accidental injury - an injury that occurs other than by chance or accident. This refers to an injury which is inconsistent with the history or explanation of what happened.
osteogenesis imperfecta - a genetic disorder involving defects in the connective tissue. It can affect the bones, making them abnormally brittle and subject to fractures. A tendency to bruise easily, blue sclerae, hearing loss and translucent skin are other possible manifestations of this disease. This is often confused with child abuse and needs to be ruled out in suspected cases.
papillidema - swelling of the optic disc caused by an increased intracranial pressure.
paralysis - loss of ability to move or feel due to damage to the nervous system. Paralysis often affects the arms or legs. Can be due to severe brain damage.
petechiae - tiny purple or red spots that appear on the skin as a result of small hemorrhages within the skin. With SBS earlobe petechia may be present.
post-mortem - examination after death. Retinal hemorrhages and subdural hematomas can be detected through a post-mortem (autopsy).
retinal hemorrhage - bleeding into the retina from damaged blood vessels in the retina. This is a good indicator of SBS since around 80% of children who have been shaken have retinal hemorrhages.
retina - a 10-layered, delicate nervous tissue membrane of the eye that includes the optic nerve. It is soft and transparent.
seizure - a disturbance of the electrical activity of the brain leading to impairment or loss of consciousness or abnormal movements. This is often an immediate physical indicator as well as a long-term consequence of shaken baby syndrome.
shaken baby syndrome (sbs) - a form of child abuse caused by violent shaking of a baby or small child, usually by an adult frustrated by the baby's crying, which can lead to brain damage, broken bones, blindness, paralysis, mental retardation, seizures or death.
subarachnoid space - situated under the arachnoid membrane and above the pia mater in the brain. It is the inner most of the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Hematomas may occur in this space following a violent shaking episode.
subdural - below the dura, the toughest lining of the brain. Between the dura and arachnoid membrane is a space. Bridging veins are found in this area. A subdural hemorrhage or hematoma can occur by rupturing these veins by shaking.
tentorial subdural hematoma - subdural hematoma in the area occupied by the midbrain or the subdural hematoma of one of the three extension of the dura mater that separates the cerebellum from the occipital lobe of the cerebrum.