The medical diagnosis of inflicted head trauma (IHT) needs to be made with great care and consideration. It is not uncommon for caregivers to provide a history of a short fall to explain inflicted head injuries. There is an overlap between the spectrum of intracranial and eye findings seen in accidental and inflicted head injury, particularly when occipital impact is involved and understanding of this is increasing. This talk will use a clinical case to highlight the forensic importance of occipital impact in paediatric head injury, discuss the clinical findings and biomechanics, and provide an overview of the recent literature. 

¹Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service, Royal Children’s and Monash Children’s Hospitals, Melbourne, Australia.