Shaken Baby Syndrome is the most common cause of death due to child abuse. Because of the altered head-to-body proportions in children and their significantly less developed neck musculature, traumatic injuries occur quickly[^1]. In particular, tearing of bridging veins can occur, leading to intracranial hemorrhage.
Characteristic findings
Characteristic findings in Shaken Baby Syndrome include[^1]:
Retinal hemorrhages
Subdural hematomas (bilateral in 80% of cases) and/or Subarachnoid hemorrhages
Few to no external signs of trauma
Cause of death
In most cases, death is due to an uncontrolled increase in intracranial pressure. In some cases, injuries at the cervicomedullary junction are also causative[^1][^2].