Neonatal Birth Injuries Flashcards
What is a birth injury?
Impairment of neonate’s body function or structure due to an adverse event that occurred at birth
What are the RFx for birth injury?
- Macrosomia
- Maternal obesity
- Abnormal presentation
- Operative vaginal delivery
- Small maternal stature / abnormal pelvis
What is the most common form of birth injury?
Soft tissue: bruising, petechiae, subcutaneous fat necrosis, lacerations
What are the extra cranial birth injuries?
- Caput succedaneum
- Cephalohaematoma
- Subgaleal haemorrhage
What is caput succedaenaum?
Oedematous swelling of the scalp above the periosteum; occasionally hemorrhagic.
- Follows prolonged engagement or vacuum extraction
- Extends across suture lines.
How is caput succedaneum differentiated from cephalohaematoma?
CS extends across suture lines
What is cephalohaematoma?
Subperiosteal collection of blood caused by rupture of vessels beneath the periosteum
What is a subgaleal haemorrhage?
Blood accumulates in loose areolar tissue in space between periosteum of skull and the aponeurosis. Due to shearing of veins between scalp and dural sinuses.
Why does subgaleal haemorrhage have a high mortality rate?
Potential for massive blood loss into subgaleal space.
