Insights into Surgical Management of Frontal Type-I Ossified Cephalhematoma: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

Cephalohematoma is usually a self-limiting subperiosteal collection of blood. It rarely ossifies, which warrants surgical treatment due to skull disfigurement. We present a case report of a 12-month-old girl who presented with right forehead swelling (ossified cephalohematoma Type I). Neurological examination was unremarkable. She had a history of head trauma at the age of 2 months. She was born via uneventful spontaneous vaginal delivery and had no history of bleeding dyscrasias. Computed tomography (CT) showed a raised outer calvarial layer, with no encroachment of the inner table. Surgical removal was planned. Postoperative recovery went uneventful. On follow-up, the patient had no neurological deficit. This report underscores the necessity of early recognition and timely management of an aesthetically undesirable sequelae following a seemingly trivial trauma. The satisfactory surgical outcome contributes to the limited literature, reinforcing the value of prompt meticulous intervention. Pediatric neurosurgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion in infants with posttraumatic scalp swelling that persist beyond 1 to 2 months.