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Influence of the benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space on the bridging veins strain during a shaking event: a finite element study

International Journal of Legal Medicine volume 122, pages 337–340 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

There is controversy regarding the influence of the benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space on intracranial injuries in the field of the shaken baby syndrome. In the literature, several terminologies exists to define this entity illustrating the lack of unicity on this theme, and often what is “benign” enlargement is mistaken with an old subdural bleeding or with abnormal enlargement due to brain pathology. This certainly led to mistaken conclusions. To investigate the influence of the benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space on child head injury and especially its influence on the bridging veins, we used a finite element model of a 6-month-old child head on which the size of the subarachnoid space was modified. Regarding the bridging veins strain, which is at the origin of the subdural bleeding when shaking an infant, our results show that the enlargement of the subarachnoid space has a damping effect which reduces the relative brain/skull displacement. Our numerical simulations suggest that the benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space may not be considered as a risk factor for subdural bleeding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Mécanique des Fluides et des Solides, UMR 7507 ULP CNRS, 2 rue Boussingault, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    Jean-Sébastien Raul, Sébastien Roth & Rémy Willinger

  2. Institut de Médecine Légale, 11 rue Humann, 67085, Strasbourg, France

    Jean-Sébastien Raul & Bertrand Ludes

Authors
  1. Jean-Sébastien Raul
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  2. Sébastien Roth
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  3. Bertrand Ludes
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  4. Rémy Willinger
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Correspondence to Jean-Sébastien Raul.

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Raul, JS., Roth, S., Ludes, B. et al. Influence of the benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space on the bridging veins strain during a shaking event: a finite element study. Int J Legal Med 122, 337–340 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0242-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0242-6

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