| Homicidal commotio cordis: the final blow in a battered infant. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 12510035 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
OBJECTIVE: This report describes in detail the occurrence of inflicted commotio cordis (cardiac concussion) in a previously abused 7-week-old. Though inflicted commotio cordis has been reported in three toddlers, this is the first report in a young infant. METHOD: Following documentation of abuse in a living child, the case of a death of a prior sibling--previously regarded as natural--was re-opened for further investigation. Original autopsy materials were reviewed, and the body of the deceased child was exhumed. RESULTS: Exhumation and second autopsy documented more than 50 fractures in the deceased child. When re-interviewed, the children's father admitted to causing the injuries in both children, and gave a textbook description of commotio cordis as the mechanism of death in the fatal case. CONCLUSIONS: Commotio cordis is a rare event in which a fatal dysrhythmia--usually ventricular fibrillation--is precipitated by a blow to the precordial chest. Previous reports have indicated that homicidal commotio cordis can occur in small children. This report demonstrates that commotio cordis can occur even in the very young, previously abused infant. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Andrew M Baker; Barbara R Craig; Gael J Lonergan |
Related Documents
:
|
10218175 - Primary sternal osteomyelitis in infants: a report of two cases. 16098865 - Genetic predispositions for thromboembolism as a possible etiology for gastroschisis. 1456255 - Pediatric euthanasia. 12371245 - Trends in infant abduction. 16402265 - Video-assisted gastrostomy in infants less than 1 year. 1476845 - Breastfeeding more than one: multiples and tandem breastfeeding. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Case Reports; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Child abuse & neglect Volume: 27 ISSN: 0145-2134 ISO Abbreviation: Child Abuse Negl Publication Date: 2003 Jan |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2003-01-02 Completed Date: 2003-04-29 Revised Date: 2005-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 7801702 Medline TA: Child Abuse Negl Country: England |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 125-30 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
|
Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. |
Affiliation:
|
Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Rockville, MD, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Autopsy Cause of Death* Child Abuse* Fatal Outcome Fractures, Bone Heart Injuries / complications*, etiology, pathology* Humans Infant Male Ventricular Fibrillation / etiology |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Cultural norms versus state law in treating incest: a suggested model for Arab families.
Next Document: A randomized, controlled trial of the use of pulmonary-artery catheters in high-risk surgical patien...