The Surgical Treatment of Ossified Cephalhematoma in Infants

Purpose: Some newborns' cephalhematoma will ossify if it lasts for a long time, which will affect the shape of the head and lead to other complications. There is still controversy about the operation. Our purpose is to evaluate whether the operation can effectively improve the skull shape and improve the clinicians' understanding of the ossification of cephalhematoma. Methods: : A retrospective cohort review in ossified cephalhematoma cases who had undergone ablation in the Department of Neurosurgery of Shanghai Children’s Hospital, School of medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from since Jan. 2015 to Jan. 2022 with at least 6 months follow-up was conducted. Our study focused on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, perioperative precautions and prognosis of the disease. Results: : A total of 20 cases were included in the current study. All infants were treated for head mass and examined by CT. The cephalhematomas were localized in typical parietal(n=18) or parieto-occipital/ temporoparietal region. All infants were full-term, including 16 infants delivered vaginally, 3 cesarean section, 1 conversion cesarean. Birth weight was 2750-3900g, and preoperative hemoglobin range was 96-124g / L. After the preoperative examination was completed, all infants received surgical treatment.13 patients received blood transfusion during and after operation. After at least half a year's follow-up, their surgical results were good, and the scalp incision healed in one stage, without any complications. Conclusion: Early intervention for cephalohematoma to minimize the possibility of ossification. When local double-layer sign is revealed in theircranial CT, ossified cephalhematoma cases could benefit from surgery with regard toimproving their skull shape without complications.