Cephalhematoma
Cephalhematoma
Cephalhematoma (pronounced: sef-uh-luh-HEE-muh-toh-muh) is a medical condition typically seen in newborns, characterized by a subperiosteal hematoma, a collection of blood that occurs between the skull and its covering, the periosteum.
Etymology
The term "Cephalhematoma" is derived from the Greek words 'kephale' meaning 'head' and 'haima' meaning 'blood'.
Definition
A Cephalhematoma is a traumatic subperiosteal hematoma that occurs underneath the skin, in the periosteum of the infant's skull. This condition is most commonly caused by birth injuries during labor and delivery, particularly in instrument-assisted births involving forceps or vacuum extraction.
Symptoms
The primary symptom of a cephalhematoma is a raised bump or swelling on one side of the head, which may take several hours or days to appear after birth. The swelling is usually soft and may increase in size over the first few days after birth.
Causes
The main cause of Cephalhematoma is trauma during childbirth, particularly during a difficult labor or delivery, or when birth-assisting tools like forceps or vacuum extractors are used.
Treatment
Treatment for cephalhematoma generally involves careful monitoring of the infant's condition. In most cases, the body reabsorbs the blood over time and the swelling goes away on its own. In rare cases, if the cephalhematoma is large or does not resolve on its own, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Related Terms
- Hematoma - A collection of blood outside of a blood vessel.
- Subperiosteal hematoma - A hematoma located beneath the periosteum.
- Periosteum - A membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones.
- Forceps - A surgical instrument that resembles a pair of tongs and can be used in surgery for grabbing, maneuvering, or removing various things within or from the body.
- Vacuum extraction - A method to assist delivery of a baby using a vacuum device.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cephalhematoma
- Wikipedia's article - Cephalhematoma
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