Shaken adult syndrome: report of 2 cases.

Abstract

To establish that the intracranial and ophthalmologic findings present in victims of abusive head trauma can also be seen in shaken adults. We report 2 cases of shaken adults with intracranial and ophthalmologic findings that resulted from repetitive acceleration-deceleration injury. These findings included intracranial hemorrhages, hemorrhages involving the optic nerve sheath, intraretinal and subretinal hemorrhages, and macular folds. The intracranial and ophthalmologic findings that are characteristic of abusive head trauma--subdural hemorrhages, optic nerve sheath hemorrhages, and retinal hemorrhages--are generally thought to be limited to young children and infants. Adults may also be victims of shaking abuse, and an ophthalmic examination may be beneficial when shaking is suspected.