What if cephalohematoma calcified?
Cephalohematoma, one of the most common neonatal head injuries, generally undergoes spontaneous resorption. When calcified, it may cause cranial vault distortion and depression of the inner skull layer, although it remains asymptomatic. Surgery, indeed, is usually performed for cosmetic purposes.
Does calcified cephalohematoma go away?
It occurs in 0.4% to 3.0% of neonates. It is believed that repeated compression of the skull during hard labor damages the emissary and diploic veins, ultimately resulting in a hematoma in the subperiosteal layer of the skull. The majority of cephalohematomas resolve spontaneously within 1 month.
How do you solve cephalohematoma?
The best treatment is to leave the area alone and give the body time to reabsorb the collected fluid. Usually, cephalohematomas do not present any problem to a newborn. The exception is an increased risk of neonatal jaundice in the first days after birth.
Can cephalohematoma cause brain damage?
In severe cases, cephalohematomas can lead to complications like cerebral palsy, brain damage and dangerous infections. This pool of blood, and appearance of fluid, should always be taken very seriously, because it can be an indication of a more serious injury.
How is calcified cephalohematoma treated?
In cases that present late (after 3-6 months), the cephalohematoma feels hard and on the CT scan, is completely encased by bone. Surgery is the only effective treatment for these calcified cephalohematoma.
When does cephalohematoma calcify?
When a cephalohematoma persists for more than 4 weeks, a rare calcification process may begin (3%-5% of all cephalohematomas), resulting in complications such as persistent deformity of the head6 and/or encroachment into the cranial vault space that may require surgical intervention.
How long does a cephalohematoma take to go away?
You can expect the bump to go away in several weeks to a few months. Some injuries may take up to three months to heal completely. In rare cases, your doctor may decide to drain the pooled blood.
How long does it take for cephalohematoma to calcify?
It is believed that repeated compression of the skull during hard labor damages the emissary and diploic veins, ultimately resulting in a hematoma in the subperiosteal layer of the skull. The majority of cephalohematomas resolve spontaneously within 1 month.
When should I worry about cephalohematoma?
Although cephalohematomas are generally not a major threat, they can increase the risk of health complications such as anemia and jaundice. If a baby develops anemia, they may require a blood transfusion.
Can cephalohematoma cause death?
Infection. One of the more dangerous complications of newborn cephalohematoma is infection. Infection can begin in the pooled blood and lead to a serious systemic infection such as sepsis or meningitis. These types of serious infections have a high death rate in infants, so getting diagnosed promptly is critical.
How is a calcified cephalohematoma removed from the body?
For Type 1 calcified cephalohematoma, the pericranium is opened and the outer lamella is separated from the inner lamella either with a drill bit or an osteotome. The organized hematoma within its core is removed. The inner lamella is smoothed with a burr and bleeding is stopped with bone wax.
Can a calcified cephalhematoma cause cosmetic deformity?
Calcification of cephalhematomas is an uncommon complication of cephalhematoma in children. Larger size hematomas can cause cosmetic deformity, may lead to significant deformity of the inner table of skull and craniosynostosis which may require surgical intervention.
When did cephalohematoma become hard after aspiration?
This report describes a case of an infant of 5 months presenting with cephalohematoma since birth which was initially soft but later became hard and calcified after two months with the history of aspiration at one and half month of age. Surgical intervention using discard of the inner lamella and the cap radial craniectomy technique was used.
Can a calcified cephalohematoma cause calvarial growth disturbances?
Also, calcified cephalohematoma can potentially cause calvarial growth disturbances. Martinez-Lage, et al [14] reported a case of scaphocephaly secondary to a calcified cephalohematoma hindering the growth of the sagittal suture.