A 2-hour-old neonate born by normal vaginal delivery has a scalp swelling, with normal cry and activity. What is the probable cause?
Ans. (a) Serosanguineous extra periosteal fluid.* The reason why this skull looks asymmetrical is due to moulding. This is a caput succedaneum, where there is a serosanguineous subcutaneous extra periosteal fluid collection with poorly defined margins caused by pressure of presenting part of skull against the dilating cervix. The caput succedaneum extends across the midline, crossing over suture lines and resolves over few days. * Cephalhematoma takes >24 hours to develop and is a focal sub-periosteal bleeding. On resolution which may take weeks it may harden followed by softening from the center. It is associated with instrumentational delivery or prolonged labor which are not given in the history.* Chignon is seen after vacuum extraction and sometimes complicated by sub aponeurotic hemorrhage.
Serosanguineous extra periosteal fluid
Focal sub-aponeurotic blood collection
Chignon
Depressed skull fracture
Miscellaneous (Gynae)