Infant Skull Fractures During Birth

The birth of a baby is typically filled with joy for the new parents, siblings, and many others close to the family. However, when the unexpected happens, such as an infant skull fracture, that perfect day could become a worst nightmare.

How Do Skull Fractures Occur During Birth?

In many cases, an infant skull fracture is the result of negligence on behalf of one or several caregivers. Typically, this type of birth injury is caused by excessive force from any number of tools or procedures, including:

• Vacuum extraction: A procedure that uses an apparatus to assist a child in passing through the birth canal during delivery. It is used when a mother is having little success making progress or if a child appears to be in distress.
• Forceps: These are used in about one in eight births, and they guide the baby’s head out of the birth canal while the mother simultaneously pushes. They, too, are used when labor has stalled, the mother is making little progress on her own, or the baby is potentially in distress.
• Delayed C-section: When labor is prolonged, and the decision to perform a C-section is put off, it can cause trauma, including infant skull fractures. Reasons for putting off the procedure can be the result of a missed diagnosis of a condition, such as the baby coming out breech.

What Are the Most Common Types of Infant Skull Fractures?

Depending on the type of skull fracture, the injury could have any number of results, including bleeding, bruising, a misshapen head, and lumps on the skull. Meanwhile, signs of moderate to severe skull fractures include difficulty nursing, crying for no reason, difficulty in consoling them, listlessness and lethargy, unexplained irritability, difficulty focusing, and seizures.

Here’s a closer look at the most common types of skull fractures during childbirth:

• Linear skull fracture: Considered the most common type of fracture, linear fractures do not move the bone out of place. Instead, it is typically a straight line and although it is still serious, it does not require surgery.
• Depressed skull fracture: When the skull sinks inward, it is known as a depressed fracture. Because it is more likely to cause bleeding or create pressure on the brain, it is traditionally considered more serious. Some say the use of forceps or vacuum extraction could be to blame for this type of fracture.
• Diastatic skull fracture: Known to occur along the sutures between the bone plates that make up the baby’s skull, this is considered fairly serious because the brain could potentially swell out of the fracture site.
• Basilar skull fracture: Considered the most severe type of fracture, this occurs in the back of the head at the bottom of the skull. It can cause bruising around the eyes and behind the ears, as well as cause Cerebral fluid to come out of the nose.

While the physical effects may fade over time from the less severe cases, the long-term effects may not be immediately known. Long-term effects of infant skull fractures may include cognitive, developmental, perceptual, physical, and behavioral issues, according to Cerebral Palsy advocates.

It is important to note that the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit is eight years from the diagnosis of the injury. Therefore, anyone who suspects their child has suffered this fate during childbirth needs to act swiftly to be able to provide the treatment and long-term care that may be required to properly address the child’s needs.

If You Have Questions About Your Case and Whether It Qualifies as Negligence, Contact the Belleville Birth Injury Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm

Even if you were initially awarded payment for a potential problem caused by an infant skull fracture during childbirth, the Belleville birth injury lawyers at The Cates Law Firm may be able to assist you in pursuing additional compensation. Call 618-277-3644 or contact us online for a free consultation. Our office is located in Swansea, Illinois, and we proudly serve clients in St. Louis, Belleville, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Granite City, Waterloo, Chester, Carbondale, St. Clair County, Madison County, Monroe County, Randolph County, and other regions throughout Southern Illinois.