Sturz im Säuglingsalter

Following previous experiments on postmortem skull fractures of infants, falls from 82-cm heights onto stone (A), carpet (B) and foam-backed linoleum (C), 35 further falling tests were carried out onto softly cushioned ground. In 10 cases a 2-cm thick foam rubber mat (D) was chosen and in 25 further cases a double-folded (8-cm-thick) camel hair blanket (E). Hence the results of altogether 50 tests could be evaluated. In test groups A-C on a relatively hard surface, skull fractures of the parietale were observed in every case; in test group D this fracture was seen in one case and in test group E in four cases. Measurements along the fracture fissures showed bone thickness of 0.1-0.4 mm. The fracture injuries originated in paper-thin single-layer bone areas without diploe, which can also be considered the preferred regions for skull fractures of older infants following falls from low heights. These results indicate that it is no longer possible to assume that the skull of infants is not damaged after falls from table height.

Section: Biomechanical Fragility Of Skull Fractures In Infantsunclassified

Section: Ergebnisseunclassified

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Zur biomechanischen Fragilit�t des S�uglingssch�dels

Weber

1985

“…In kasuistiscben Mitteilungen haben verschiedene Autoren Kalottenfrakturen bei S~iuglingen nach Sturz aus ,,niedriger H6he" beschrieben (Schydlo und Gleiss 1971;Holczabek et al 1972;Lange-Cosack et al 1977;Franzen-Wobbe 1983;Weber 1984 …”

Section: Sehliisselwiirter: Frfihkindlicher Sch~idelbruch Pr~idilektunclassified

Pr�dilektionsstellen infantiler Kalottenfrakturen nach stumpfer Gewalt

Weber¹

1987

Previous investigations on calvarial fractures in infants have shown that the flexibility and displacement of the infant calvarial are not sufficient to avoid fractures as a result of fall. From a table height onto hard ground - and in special cases, fractures cannot be avoided even after falls onto softly cushioned ground. The skull fractures are located in paper-thin, transparent, single-layer bone areas without diploe. The results of previous literature were compared with investigations of the skulls of 82 infants (from neonates up to infants 14 months of age). Congenital fissures, cranioschisis, locally retarded ossification in the cranium and craniotabes are all weak points where fracture has a tendency to occur even if the impact is minor. These ossification defects are increased in the ossa parietalia, but can also be found in the os frontale or in the os occipitale. The location is not always the same but can be detected by locating the skull transparency using diaphanoscopy.

Biomechanische und morphologische Rekonstruktion einer fraglichen Kindesmi�handlung

Müller-Kölbl¹,

Bratzke²,

Beier³

1989

A 3-month-old baby died 8 days after admission to the hospital as a result of injuries received under unknown circumstances. The forensic autopsy revealed a fracture of the scull and a severe blunt injury to the head and brain. Histological investigation of the reactive changes at and around the edges of the fracture showed that the trauma could not possibly have been congenital. According to the defendant, the baby boy had been lying on the table used for changing his nappy and almost fell off it. The defendant moved "instinctively" to catch him, and this "reflex movement" caused the injuries observed. The event was then reconstructed by the criminal investigators and this reconstruction, coupled with the authors' biomechanical experiments using stroboscopic recording, revealed that the defendant's statement could not be true, as the force necessary to inflict the injuries was much greater than could be explained by an attempt to catch the baby.