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Childhood subgaleal hematoma following minor head trauma
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|July 1, 1983
Insights
Subgaleal hematomas can occur days after minor head injuries in children and infants, even without fractures. These bleeds likely result from forces impacting blood vessels in the subgaleal space.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Subgaleal hematoma is a collection of blood in the space between the galea aponeurotica and the periosteum.
- It is a rare but potentially serious condition in infants and children.
- Minor head trauma is a common presentation in pediatric emergency departments.
Observation:
- Six cases of subgaleal hematoma are presented, occurring one to eight days post-trauma.
- Affected patients included four children and two infants, with one infant having presumed trauma.
- None of the cases showed evidence of skull fracture or coagulation abnormalities.
Findings:
- Subgaleal hemorrhage in these cases was not associated with fractures or bleeding disorders.
- The likely cause identified was radial or tangential forces applied to subgaleal blood vessels.
- The timing of onset (1-8 days) suggests a delayed or evolving hemorrhage process.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider subgaleal hematoma in pediatric patients with minor head trauma, even without obvious signs of injury.
- Diagnostic imaging may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other intracranial injuries.
- Understanding the mechanism of injury is crucial for appropriate management and parental counseling.
Abstract:
Subgaleal hematoma developed one to eight days after minor head trauma in four children and in two infants, one with presumed trauma. These six children had no evidence of fracture or abnormality of coagulation. Hemorrhage into the subgaleal space resulted most likely from either radial or tangential forces applied to blood vessels within the subgaleal space.