Short & long-term visual outcomes following Non-Accidental Head Injury
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Immediate and long term visual and neurodevelopmental outcomes following Non-Accidental Head Injury (NAHI) in children under 2 years of age.
IRAS ID
213823
Contact name
Geetha Anand
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 5 days
Research summary
Non-Accidental Head Injury (NAHI) is estimated to occur in around 33 children per 100,000 in the UK. It is associated with significant risk of death, seizures and long-term developmental delay, impacting on schooling, work and relationships. Most studies of NAHI to date have focused on the short-term to medium term outcomes with follow-up usually less than 2 years, which may not be long enough to pick up learning and behavioural problems that are often seen years later. The eye is particularly vulnerable to damage in NAHI, occurring in 60 to 85% of cases. The purpose of this study is to describe the range of findings on eye examination immediately following a NAHI and explore the associated long-term visual outcomes. The patient population will be children seen at John Radcliffe Hospital with NAHI and retinal haemorrhage, a particular type of bleeding in the back of the eye that is closely linked to non-accidental injury as well as bleeding around the brain (subdural haemorrhage). This study provides the opportunity to explore visual outcomes over a large series of patients, increasing knowledge about potential outcomes following NAHI and the role assessing early eye changes might have for predicting longer-term outcomes. This information could be used to standardise follow up for children and facilitate more timely rehabilitation interventions.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/2133
Date of REC Opinion
1 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion