Three infants with epidural hematoma
Schade, S.J.; Lie, S.T.; Draaisma, J.M.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 145(38): 1825-1828
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 11593783 Document Number: 534410
Three infants, two boys aged 10 months and one girl aged 5 months, developed drowsiness and emesis within a few hours of a fall (after which they had not lost consciousness). Radiological examination revealed an epidural haematoma which was treated with emergency decompression. The children subsequently made a good recovery. An epidural haematoma is a potentially life-threatening event. More than 20% of all cases of epidural haematoma occur in childhood. In contrast with distinct symptoms in most adults and older children, an epidural haematoma in infancy can have a minimum of symptoms. The open fontanelle means compression occurs less rapidly, but consequently blood loss can be greater, leading to acute anaemia, hypovolaemic shock and consumptive coagulopathy.