Occult large epidural hemorrhage in a newborn infant after in-hospital fall

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Neonatal Care
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in newborns presents diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific clinical signs.
• In-hospital falls in neonates require careful evaluation for potential traumatic brain injury.

Observation:

• A case report of a four-day-old infant presenting after an in-hospital fall.
• The infant appeared well but was diagnosed with a severe epidural hemorrhage.

Findings:

• The severe epidural hemorrhage necessitated emergent surgical drainage.
• Clinical observation alone was insufficient for diagnosing the actionable intracranial hemorrhage.

Implications:

• Standard imaging protocols for newborns with in-hospital falls should be developed.
• These protocols must prioritize the early detection of intracranial hemorrhage to prevent adverse outcomes.