Incidence, Distribution, and Duration of Birth-Related Retinal Hemorrhages: A Prospective Study

Vitreoretinal traction is a major factor in causing the haemorrhagic retinopathy of abusive head injury? – No

“…Neither does vitreoretinal traction explain the frequent finding of RH (and when looked for, SDH 16 ) in normal neonates, nor why the frequency of RH is significantly increased (reaching up to 75%) after Ventouse delivery, 17,18 indicating a role for venous congestion by suctional forces transmitted through the fontanelle.…”

Intraretinal Hemorrhages in Newborns at the Hospital De San José: Incidence and Associated

“…These hemorrhages are resolved rapidly between the second and eighth week of birth, and usually do not present further health consequences. [1][2][3][4][5] In contrast, hemorrhages of traumatic origin can be present at preretinal, intraretinal and/or subretinal levels, taking longer to resolve, and may have different health consequences. 1,3,9,10 It is important to evaluate the distribution and resolution pattern of the hemorrhages to provide a differential diagnosis from hemorrhages caused by retinal vascular diseases, chorioretinal infections or trauma as a consequence of child abuse.…”

“…Severity can also be classified by their ocular location: extramacular and macular, with the later considered as more severe due to later visual implications. 2,[6][7][8] Since intraretinal hemorrhages in newborns were reported 48 years ago, 2,4,9 it has been associated with pregnancy labor. The incidence of hemorrhages varies widely within a range of 2.6% to 50.0%.…”

“…[1][2]4,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The wide range of incidence may be due to several factors such as the length of time between birth and the newborn's first ophthalmological exam, examiner's experience, fetal or maternal biometric factors, or systemic diseases in the neonate. 2,4 Also, the type of delivery affects the incidence of hemorrhages, with a higher incidence when vacuum extraction (ventouse) is used (38.0% to 77.8%), followed by vaginal eutocic delivery (10.5% to 41.0%), the use of forceps (13.0% to 16.0%). The lowest incidence is found after cesarean delivery (6.7% to 7.0%).…”

Rare retinal haemorrhages in translational accidental head trauma in children

“…10,14,15 Childbirth can also cause retinal haemorrhages because of mechanical stress. 16 The differential diagnosis of retinal haemorrhages in children also include coagulopathies (including haemophilia and hypoprothrombinaemia caused by vitamin K deficiency), leukaemia, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, retinal infections, Coat's disease, retinopathy of prematurity, and hypertension. 17 Retinal haemorrhages can occur after minor trauma if there is an underlying medical condition, such as osteogenesis imperfecta type I.…”