Posterior fossa subdural hematoma in the newborn caused by birth injury

Among various cases of intracranial hemorrhage in the newborn caused by birth injury, posterior fossa subdural hematoma is of serious nature in many cases and often results in death after critical clinical course due to compression of the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata. We have recently experienced two cases of subdural hematoma in the posterior fossa caused by birth injury, which we successfully treated non-surgically. Herein, we report these two cases and present a sequential CT scan of each. The first case is a full-term (39 weeks gestation) male infant. Delivery was carried out spontaneously with double footling presentation. At 20 hours of age, cyanosis and convulsion occurred. CT scan was performed and revealed high density areas in the posterior fossa, quadrigeminal cistern and longitudinal cerebral fissure. Bloody CSF was discharged per lumbar puncture and glycerol was infused intravenously, but the ventricle became enlarged. At this point at 9 days of age, the infant was admitted to our hospital. While he showed poor activity on admission, hematoma was absorbed gradually and disappeared at 3 months of age by conservative treatment. Now, at 6 years and 6 months of age, the patient has no neurological deficits. The second case is a full-term (40 weeks gestation) twin female infant. Due to breech presentation, delivery was conducted per breech extraction. At three days of age, vomiting, fontanel bulging and hypotonia were observed. CT scan revealed hematoma similar to that seen in the first case, and steroid and glycerol were infused intravenously. Conservative treatment was performed in this case also, and changes shown by CT scan were almost the same as those seen in the first case. The patient has no neurological deficits at 5 years and 7 months of age. Since the introduction of CT scan, early diagnosis of a subdural hematoma in the posterior fossa has been possible. But reports of successful surgical treatment are not so frequent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)