Intracranial epidural hematoma in newborn infants: clinical study of 15 cases.

Abstract

Epidural hematoma (EDH) in newborn infants is rare. We have described the history of 15 newborns with EDH to provide a better understanding of this pathology. This is a descriptive case series study using a retrospective review of the medical records of newborns who were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neurosurgery Department with the diagnosis of birth EDH over a 24-year period (1979-2002). There was no sex predominance, and most of the mothers were young, nulliparous women. The time latency from birth to the first signs varied from 0 to 24 hours. Clinical presentation was nonspecific: seizures and hypotonia were the main symptoms. The parietal area was the most frequent location. Surgical drainage was required in nine patients, and no deaths were reported. This report highlights the clinicoradiological characteristics of newborn EDH, which occurs more frequently in newborns that experienced difficult delivery from a nulliparous mother. Surgery is not a rule; some patients can be managed with conservative treatment. The outcome is generally good.