Inflicted head trauma in infants' and young children - Medicolegal aspects

The evaluation of inflicted cranio-cerebral injuries in infancy and early childhood is often difficult. Lesions may appear non-specific, findings are subtle, and experimental studies to assist in determining degree of force required and possible causative mechanisms of injuries are lacking. In the following paper, problems that may occur in the assessment of possible inflicted trauma and in interpreting the significance of such findings for courts are discussed.