SFP: forensic pediatrics and SIDS Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is SUID?
An unexpected death of a child less than a year old.
What is SIDS?
Sudden unexpected death of a child less than a year old that remains unexplained after a complete autopsy, scene investigation, and review of medical records.
What is a main prevention method for SIDS?
Baby sleeping in a crib on their back with no sheets, blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows.
What is involved in a SIDS workup?
Autopsy, x-rays, cultures, toxicology, metabolic screen, sometimes genetics. Basically, looking for any potential cause.
What do we see on autopsy in SIDS?
Nothing specific; possibly petechiae, but that’s it.
Describe asphyxia deaths.
Smothering via covering of the nose and mouth. May be intentional, but absolutely can be accidental.
What do we see on autopsy in asphyxia death?
Nothing specific at all.
What is often true of the assailant in child abuse?
The assailant is often known to the kid.
What accounts for most deaths related to child abuse?
Head trauma.
What are some suspicious indications of child abuse?
Multiple impacts, odd locations, patterns.
What injury is almost always pathologic/suspicious in kids?
Posterior rib fractures.
What locations may be suspicious for bruising in kids?
In ears, behind ears, palms of the hands, multiple foci in the same location, periorbital injuries.
What is traumatic alopecia?
Hair loss associated with head trauma and abuse.
What are some skin lesions that may mimic child abuse?
Severe eczema, congenital melanocytosis.
What fractures tend to be more worrisome?
Midshaft long bone fractures and rib fractures, especially in multiples.
What are some CPR external injuries?
Facial abrasions, chin and lip contusions, adhesive tape marks, mucosal tears in the oropharynx.
What are some internal CPR injuries?
Epicardial hematoma, gastric perforation, hepatic/splenic/pancreatic injury.
What is Munchausen by proxy?
Telling stories about someone else for attention-seeking.
What might raise concern for Munchausen by proxy?
Multiple visits, procedures, ‘doctor-shopping’.
What is the classic triad seen in abusive head trauma?
Subdural, subarachnoid, and retinal hemorrhages.
What is true of the triad seen in abusive head trauma?
Several diseases that cause swelling of the brain can mimic this!
What are axonal retraction balls?
Structures that can form when the brain sloshes back and forth from abuse head trauma from shearing of axons due to impact.
What is the second leading cause of death due to abuse?
Abdominal trauma, usually dealing with the liver.
How long does it take to develop a full thickness burn with 140-degree water heater?
7 seconds.
