About infant skull fractures
A newborn skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in a baby’s head, usually caused by pressure during delivery.
Infant skull bones are soft and flexible, designed to move slightly when a baby is being born. However, when excessive force is used — or when a baby is too large or poorly positioned — delicate skull bones can crack or indent.
Some birth injuries are unavoidable, but skull fractures often happen when doctors misuse tools like forceps or vacuum extractors or fail to uphold the standard of care during a complicated birth.
Sometimes, infant skull fractures heal on their own, but in other cases, bleeding, brain damage, seizures, and even permanent disability can occur.
Many infant skull fractures are preventable with careful monitoring and proper decision-making during labor. Sometimes, doctors fail to recognize signs of fetal distress or use excessive force during delivery. When this happens, families may be able to take legal action.
If medical negligence caused your newborn's skull fracture, financial assistance may be available through a birth injury lawsuit.
Many birth injury lawsuits result in multimillion-dollar payouts, helping families cover medical care, therapy, and other lifelong expenses.
We partner with birth injury lawyers nationwide who have secured over $1 billion for families.
Find out if we can help your family, too. Get a free case review right now.
Top 5 facts on newborn skull fractures
- The main cause of infant skull fractures is head trauma during a difficult vaginal delivery. This can happen when medical providers apply excessive force with vacuum extraction or forceps.
- There are 4 types of skull fractures: Linear (a thin crack), depressed (skull pushed inward), diastatic (skull bones pulled apart), and basilar (break at the base of the skull).
- Symptoms may include a swollen area on the head, irritability, difficulty feeding, vomiting, changes in sleep patterns, or seizures. Some skull fractures may not show obvious signs right away.
- Health care providers usually diagnose infant skull fractures through CT scans or X-rays.
- Potential complications of infant skull fractures include intracranial hemorrhage, brain damage, neurological impairments, and developmental delays.
What causes newborn skull fractures?
Newborn skull fractures are most often caused by trauma during labor and delivery. In some cases, they result from unavoidable complications. In others, they may be the result of medical negligence.
Medical negligence occurs when doctors, nurses, or other health care providers fail to follow accepted standards of care, putting both the mother and baby at risk. This can lead to serious injuries, including infant skull fractures.
- Delaying or not performing a necessary cesarean section (C-section) can force the baby through a narrow birth canal, increasing pressure on the skull.
- Failing to manage maternal conditions like diabetes or infection can lead to a larger or more fragile baby, raising the risk of skull injury during delivery.
- Ignoring or missing signs of fetal distress can delay urgent delivery, leading to rushed or forceful interventions that may fracture the skull.
- Misusing delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors can result in too much force, directly causing a skull fracture.
Newborn skull fractures can lead to lifelong challenges for a child. If medical errors harmed your baby, you may have legal options to seek justice and financial support.
Get a free case review right now.
Signs and symptoms of newborn skull fracture
A newborn with a skull fracture may show different signs depending on how serious the injury is.
- Abnormal head shape
- Bleeding or bruising on the scalp
- Loss of consciousness
- Lump or swelling on the head
- Pale skin or low energy
- Seizures
- Vomiting
Some skull fractures in infants are harder to detect right away. If any of these symptoms appear after birth, doctors may perform imaging tests to confirm the injury and begin treatment.
Complications of newborn skull fracture
Most newborn skull fractures are mild and heal without long-term effects. However, more serious fractures — especially those involving pressure on the brain — can lead to lasting complications.
- Brain damage
- Cerebral palsy (CP)
- Developmental delays
- Intracranial hematoma
- Neurological problems
- Newborn cephalohematoma
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Death
The risk of complications depends on how quickly the injury is diagnosed and how severe it is. Prompt medical care can improve outcomes and help reduce the chance of permanent harm.
If your child has unexplained complications, they may be tied to a newborn skull fracture that happened during delivery.
Connect with one of our registered nurses to learn about your options — there’s never any cost to talk with us.
Risk factors for newborn skull fracture
Certain conditions during pregnancy or delivery can increase the risk of an infant fractured skull. These factors may cause excess pressure on the baby’s head, making the bones more vulnerable to injury during birth.
- Breech position, when the baby is positioned feet-first or bottom-first, increasing the chance of a difficult vaginal delivery
- Large baby size (macrosomia), which can make it harder for the baby’s head to pass safely through the birth canal
- Prolonged or difficult labor, which puts extended pressure on the baby’s skull and may lead to the use of assisted delivery instruments
- Small maternal pelvis, which may limit space for the baby to pass through the birth canal safely
When one or more of these factors are present, doctors may need to monitor labor more closely, adjust the delivery plan, or consider a C-section to reduce the risk of injury.
Failing to take appropriate steps may lead to preventable trauma, including a newborn skull fracture.
Types of newborn skull fractures
Skull fractures in newborns can vary in severity depending on the type and location of the injury. Some are minor and heal on their own, while others may lead to serious complications.
- Linear fractures are the most common. These are thin cracks in the skull that usually occur at the top of the head and often heal without treatment.
- Depressed skull fracture in infants happens when part of the skull is pushed inward toward the brain. These are more serious and are often associated with forceps deliveries.
- Diastatic fractures involve separation along the sutures between the skull bones. These may become more concerning as the baby grows.
- Basilar fractures affect the base of the skull, where critical nerves and blood vessels are located. These are the most severe and can lead to brain damage or nerve injury.
Understanding the type of fracture can help guide treatment and determine whether the injury may be linked to medical negligence.
Diagnosing newborn skull fractures
When a skull fracture is suspected at birth, doctors must act quickly to evaluate the injury and check for possible complications. Early diagnosis is key to preventing further harm.
Health care providers use a combination of physical exams and imaging tests to confirm an infant skull fracture and assess the extent of the damage.
- CT scans: Detailed images often used to detect fractures, bleeding, or swelling
- MRI scans: May help assess soft tissue or brain injuries in more complex cases
- Ultrasound: Sometimes used in newborns with open fontanelles (soft spots)
- X-rays: Show cracks or breaks in the skull bones
In most cases, CT scans and X-rays are the first imaging methods used. If your child shows signs of a newborn skull fracture, prompt medical care is essential to confirm the injury and begin treatment.
Treatment options for newborn skull fracture
Newborn skull fracture treatment depends on how serious the injury is. While some fractures heal on their own, others may require medical intervention to prevent long-term complications.
- Pain management, often with acetaminophen, to keep the baby comfortable
- Oxygen support to ensure the brain receives enough oxygen and reduce the risk of further injury
- Rehabilitation therapy for babies who experience developmental delays due to the injury
- Monitoring in a neonatal or pediatric intensive care unit (NICU or PICU) for severe cases, where vital signs and brain function can be closely observed
- Surgery to repair skull bones when the fracture is depressed or causing pressure on the brain
Early and appropriate treatment gives many infants the best chance at a healthy recovery.
Get legal help for a newborn skull fracture
A preventable birth injury shouldn’t leave your family to face a lifetime of medical costs alone. If a doctor’s actions — or failure to act — caused your baby’s skull fracture, you may have the right to pursue compensation.
Financial support from a birth injury lawsuit can help cover surgeries, therapy, and long-term care. It can also give your family the resources to plan for the future with greater stability.
Cerebral Palsy Guide partners with top lawyers and law firms who can help families in all 50 states. Together, they have recovered over $1 billion for families affected by preventable birth injuries.
Call our trained patient advocates at (855) 220-1101 or get a free case review right now to find out your options.
