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Suggest Treatment For Skull Fracture In A Child
Question: Please help me! My 15 month old daughter fell off the bed 2 weeks ago head first onto the marble floor. I only took my eye off her for a second! She had a bruise (still there after 2 weeks) but no lump and only cried for a few minutes then returned to her happy self. I have just noticed a dent in her forehead and when i feel there is a lump under the skin below the dent! I am beside myself with worry and cannot stop crying. I didnt take her to the doctor at first as she seemed fine but i took her after 2 weeks, he felt it and said its bruised and will heal and but im so scared. Will this dent fill out and the bone return to normal? I didnt notice the dent at the time of the fall, but maybe that was due to swelling? Its very noticable in the right light Please help?
Brief Answer:
Simple depressed skull fracture.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
It is difficult to be sure about the extent of the dent only by pictures, without head imaging, but it seems to me to be a small depressed skull fracture.
I am sure that you did not noticed it because of the swelling, don't blame yourself for that.
Since two weeks passed and there were no neurologic symptoms such continuous crying, vomiting, lethargy, then we can exclude any related brain damage.
This is reinforced by the fact that your baby is acting normally all this time.
In my opinion, the problem is now cosmetic, in other words, there is still a possibility that the dent will persist, as is true the opposite that the skull fracture could be remodeled as the brain expands.
Treatment also exists about these depressed skull fractures and ranges from vacuum devices to surgery with a very high rate of success.
I suggest you to get an opinion by consulting a Neurosurgeon and discuss the possibility of treating the depressed skull fracture.
One option is treatment with vacuum device such pediatric CRP mask connected to a 50 ml syringe.
In conclusion, it is a very important that there were no neurologic symptoms, and chances of self fracture remodeling exist, together with treatment possibilities with a high rate of success.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Greetings.
Simple depressed skull fracture.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
It is difficult to be sure about the extent of the dent only by pictures, without head imaging, but it seems to me to be a small depressed skull fracture.
I am sure that you did not noticed it because of the swelling, don't blame yourself for that.
Since two weeks passed and there were no neurologic symptoms such continuous crying, vomiting, lethargy, then we can exclude any related brain damage.
This is reinforced by the fact that your baby is acting normally all this time.
In my opinion, the problem is now cosmetic, in other words, there is still a possibility that the dent will persist, as is true the opposite that the skull fracture could be remodeled as the brain expands.
Treatment also exists about these depressed skull fractures and ranges from vacuum devices to surgery with a very high rate of success.
I suggest you to get an opinion by consulting a Neurosurgeon and discuss the possibility of treating the depressed skull fracture.
One option is treatment with vacuum device such pediatric CRP mask connected to a 50 ml syringe.
In conclusion, it is a very important that there were no neurologic symptoms, and chances of self fracture remodeling exist, together with treatment possibilities with a high rate of success.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Greetings.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your reply. The docter said there was no fracture? Im still so worried though. Do you think if there is no fracture it will heal? Thanks again
Brief Answer:
Imaging Study required for confirmation
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Again, without imaging it is difficult to be sure if there was fracture or not.
If the Doctor that evaluated your daughter is sure that there is no fracture, then you have nothing to worry about, certainly the dent will be filled and will be invisible with time, probably after few weeks.
Hope I've been of help.
Best regards.
Imaging Study required for confirmation
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Again, without imaging it is difficult to be sure if there was fracture or not.
If the Doctor that evaluated your daughter is sure that there is no fracture, then you have nothing to worry about, certainly the dent will be filled and will be invisible with time, probably after few weeks.
Hope I've been of help.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
The doctor i spoke to called another pedeatrician in for a second opinion and she felt the forehead quicky then walked away and said its normal, sort of shrugged it off. But there is a tiny lump under the skin, under the dent so that worries me, what is that and will that go away? Doesnt that indicate a fracture or a bruised bone? I am going out of my mind with worry it has been 2 weeks and the bruise is almost gone but the lump and dent isnt changing.
Please can you advise me also on the cpr mask and syringe? Is it something that can be done at home? And how? Thank you
Please can you advise me also on the cpr mask and syringe? Is it something that can be done at home? And how? Thank you
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for being on follow up.
The lump could be contused soft tissue, or an "edge" of the bruised or compressed bone.
It will go away with time.
CRP mask and syringe vacuum system isn't a procedure that can be done at home, or by an inexperienced person, I mentioned it as an example of what can be done if depressed skull fracture is confirmed.
You should discuss with a Neurosurgeon about it, if it's necessary or not.
This can be decided after medical examination by the Doctor.
Again, if there is confirmation by the Doctor that there is no depressed skull fracture, you have nothing to worry about and there is no need for treatment.
Best regards.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back and thanks for being on follow up.
The lump could be contused soft tissue, or an "edge" of the bruised or compressed bone.
It will go away with time.
CRP mask and syringe vacuum system isn't a procedure that can be done at home, or by an inexperienced person, I mentioned it as an example of what can be done if depressed skull fracture is confirmed.
You should discuss with a Neurosurgeon about it, if it's necessary or not.
This can be decided after medical examination by the Doctor.
Again, if there is confirmation by the Doctor that there is no depressed skull fracture, you have nothing to worry about and there is no need for treatment.
Best regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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