Non-accidental retinal haemorrhages
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

The authors sought to determine whether the presence of retinal haemorrhages (RH) correlated positively to individuals who confessed to shaking (group a) compared to those who did not confess but were identified as the likely perpetrators (group b) and cases where there was no identified perpetrator (group c). Forty-eight cases were reviewed. RH were reported in 16/18 cases in group a, 12/16 for group b and 6/14 for group c. The total incidence for RH was 73%. There was no significant difference between groups for those who confessed versus those who did not but a significant difference for when the perpetrator was identified versus not. Victims with non identified perpetrators were less likely to present acutely and time may have elapsed allowing RH to recover.

Incidence of retinal haemorrhages in abusive head trauma.
Gaffer MA, Esernio-Jenssen D, Kodsi SR.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2013;50:169-72.