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Occipital pressure sores in two neonates
Yi Liu1, Bin Xiao1, Cheng Zhang1
1Center of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Command, 333 Binghe South Street, Lanzhou, 730050 China.
Burns & Trauma
|August 31, 2016
Summary
Positional skull deformities in newborns can lead to severe occipital pressure sores. Educating parents in ethnic minority areas on proper infant head positioning can prevent these avoidable injuries.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Neonatal Care
- Craniofacial Anomalies
Background:
- Cultural preferences for specific head shapes can lead parents to alter infant sleeping positions.
- This practice may result in positional skull deformities like plagiocephaly in newborns.
- Hard pillows are sometimes used to achieve desired head shapes, posing risks.
Observation:
- Two neonates from ethnic minority groups developed deep occipital pressure sores requiring surgical intervention.
- The pressure sores were caused by using hard objects as pillows to flatten the occiput.
- Surgical repair involved debridement, local skin flaps, and external head frame immobilization.
Findings:
- One neonate achieved primary wound healing post-surgery.
- The second neonate experienced wound dehiscence, necessitating a secondary surgical procedure.
- Deep occipital pressure sores can arise from attempts to modify infant head shape.
Implications:
- Occipital pressure sores in neonates are preventable with appropriate parental education.
- Guidance on preventing, diagnosing, and managing positional skull deformities is crucial for ethnic minority communities.
- Early intervention and proper management can avoid severe complications and surgical interventions.
