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Spontaneous resolution of a 'ping-pong' fracture at birth
Ozkan Ilhan1, Meltem Bor1, Pinar Yukkaldiran2
1Department of Neonatology, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
Insights
Ping-pong fractures, a type of newborn skull fracture, often resolve spontaneously. This case highlights a spontaneous intrauterine fracture that resolved without intervention, supporting conservative management for most cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- 'Ping-pong' fractures are depressed skull fractures in newborns, characterized by inward buckling of the calvarium.
- These fractures can occur prenatally or during birth and lack a standardized management protocol.
- Current approaches range from neurosurgical to non-surgical, guided by fracture severity.
Abstract:
'Ping-pong' fractures are depressed skull fractures in newborn infants that occur as inward buckling of the calvarial bones, forming a cup shape. These fractures are often associated with maintenance of bone continuity. These fractures may occur spontaneously during the intrauterine period or secondary to birth trauma. Currently, there is no standard protocol for the management of depressed skull fractures. Neurosurgical or non-surgical approaches may be administered depends on the severity of the fracture. Most untreated ping-pong fractures resolve spontaneously within 6 months. Therefore, it is recommended to reserve surgical elevation or non-surgical techniques for infants not demonstrating spontaneous resolution during this period. In addition, neurosurgical interventions are usually considered for cases with intracranial pathology or neurological deficits or for infants who do not respond to conservative treatment. Herein, we report a case of a newborn infant with a spontaneous intrauterine ping-pong fracture, which spontaneously resolved, without surgical or non-surgical intervention.