Abstract
There is a need for further epidemiological study of non- fatal injuries in infancy and childhood, using internationally accepted severity scales. The blunt head injuries of infants and young children often show age- specific peculiarities. These may reflect different impact patterns or may result from biological immaturity. The immature skull is thin, flexible, and easily shattered; if a skull fracture in early life is associated with tearing of the bone forming dura mater, an expanding bone defect may result.