What is infant hematoma?

An infant hematoma , is also known as subdural infant hematoma, and simply means that the veins beneath the outer covering of the brain have torn, thus allowing blood to pool and necessitating speedy diagnosis and quick intervention in order to prevent permanent damage.

Causes

The cause of an infant hematoma is often due to trauma, or injury to the head. Whether inflicted intentionally as an instance of child abuse; accidentally; or for a cause that cannot be ascertained, it is frequently the subject of investigation. A study published in 2000 in “Pediatrics,” the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that almost 20 percent of infant hematoma resulted from accidental trauma. However, 76 percent of cases were found to have resulted from abuse. The younger the children were, the more likely that abuse was the contributing factor.

There is the further possibility that the trauma could have been inflicted during the birth process. Despite the sophistication of modern medical procedures, unexpected circumstances can arise and errors can be made. Such difficulties can occur when the baby is not passing through the birth canal in a normal manner and human intervention becomes necessary. This often requires physicians to use specific tools to adjust an infant’s birth journey. Infants who have turned sideways, for example, might have to be turned around. Such difficult deliveries frequently involve the use of forceps, or vacuum extraction devices.

Symptoms

There are tell-tale signs of infant hematoma. According to the National Institute of Health, these include a bulging fontanelle, the soft spot on a baby’s skull that hardens with time. Perfectly normal fontanelles can bulge, however, tending to enlarge somewhat when in a prone position. If the size of the fontanelle reverts to normal after sitting up, no problem is indicated. Feeding difficulties, seizures and persistent vomiting are also signs to look for. Additional indicators are enlarged head circumference, a high-pitched cry, and excessive sleepiness or irritability.

Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.

Emergency room errors
Because of its fast pace and high-stress environment, the emergency room is the most common site of medical errors. While some safety measures are standard, some hospitals fail to comply due to budget, staffing, or organization problems. Common emergency room errors include delayed treatment, insufficient first aid, and poor sanitation.

Misdiagnosis
This term can refer to a wrong, delayed, or missed diagnosis, which results in a delay or complete lack of treatment that aggravates the patient’s condition. Effects can range from pain and discomfort to long-term injuries or death. Commonly misdiagnosed conditions include cancer, meningitis, heart attacks, stroke, and brain injury.

Prescription errors
In this type of malpractice, the fault can be attributed to the prescribing doctor, administering nurse, pharmacy, or pharmaceutical company involved. This can include the unauthorized use of experimental drugs, incorrect dosage, poor administration, or prescriptions inappropriate for the patient or the patient’s condition.

Surgical errors
Its delicate and high-risk nature makes surgery an easy site for medical errors. A surgical error can result in anything from post-operation pain to unnecessary loss of a body part. Anesthesia errors, wrong-site surgery, and the use of improperly sterilized equipment are among the more common types of surgical error.

Birth injuries
Errors in the birthing process can cause long-term disability or death for the mother or child, or sometimes both. These include improper monitoring of vital statistics, inadequate care, and inappropriate medications. Such errors can lead to brain injuries, fractures, cerebral palsy, infection, or stillbirth.

General neglect
A study by the House of Representatives showed that around 30% of nursing homes in the U.S. have had incidents of patient abuse, which cause hundreds of otherwise preventable deaths. Most cases of nursing home neglect involve failure to provide proper medication, appropriate diets, adequate supervision, and protection from safety hazards.

This article is purely for informational purposes and must not be taken as legal advice.

Additional legal resource: The Barber Law Firm, Dallas, Texas. Serving clients in the Greater Dallas area.