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  • Title: Use of digital camera imaging of eye fundus for telemedicine in children suspected of abusive head injury.
    Author: Saleh M, Schoenlaub S, Desprez P, Bourcier T, Gaucher D, Astruc D, Speeg-Schatz C.
    Journal: Br J Ophthalmol; 2009 Apr; 93(4):424-8. PubMed ID: 19019943.
    Abstract:
    AIM: Pilot study of the role of RetCam imaging for telemedicine in lieu of availability of ophthalmologist examination for cases of suspected abusive head injury. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS: 21 children admitted in the paediatric units of the University Hospital of Strasbourg (France) with suspicion of abusive head trauma were included. METHODS: Children were examined by standard ophthalmoscopy. Photographs were taken using the RetCam-120 Digital Retinal Camera. Eye fundus images were stored and remotely read by an ophthalmologist. Patients also had radiographic skeletal series to look for bone fractures, and CT scan and/or MRI of the head to look for intracranial haemorrhages. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The absence or presence of retinal haemorrhages was assessed by both methods. Feasability, sensitivity and specificity of the digital camera procedure were determined. RESULTS: 85.7% of the children presented cerebral bleeding, and 14 out of the 21 (66.7%) had retinal haemorrhages on ophthalmoscopy. The digital camera detected the retinal abnormalities in all cases. One false-positive case was also reported. The sensitivity of the digital camera detection method was 100% with a specificity of 85.7%. 14 patients were eventually diagnosed as suffering from abusive trauma. RetCam helped establishing the diagnosis of abuse in 92.8% of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: Digital photography compared with ophthalmoscopy has a good sensitivity and specificity in detecting retinal haemorrhages. Remote reading of RetCam-120 photographs could be a promising strategy in detecting children with abusive head trauma.
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