Main Article Content
Abstract
RÉSUMÉ
L'hématome sous-dural chronique (HSDC) est une affection rare mais grave chez le nourrisson, dont les étiologies sont dominées par le traumatisme, accidentel ou infligé (syndrome du bébé secoué). Les causes non traumatiques, comme les troubles de la coagulation, sont moins fréquentes mais cruciales à identifier. Nous rapportons le cas d’une fille de cinq semaines, née à terme par voie basse sans manœuvre instrumentale, sans administration de vitamine K à la naissance, et sans antécédent traumatique connu. Admise pour un paludisme grave avec anémie, son état s’est dégradé à la 48e heure avec apparition de signes d’hypertension intracrânienne (bombement de la fontanelle, anisocorie, convulsions) et d’un saignement persistant aux points de ponction. Le bilan biologique a objectivé un allongement du temps de céphaline avec activateur et un taux de prothrombine bas (40 %), corrigés après administration de vitamine K. La tomodensitométrie cérébrale a confirmé un hématome sous-dural chronique gauche compressif, ayant nécessité une craniotomie en urgence. L’évolution post-opératoire a été fatale en réanimation. Ce cas souligne la nécessité d’évoquer un trouble de la coagulation, notamment un déficit en vitamine K ou une hémophilie sous-jacente, devant tout HSDC inexpliqué du nourrisson, en particulier en l’absence de prophylaxie à la naissance. Il rappelle l’importance d’un bilan d’hémostase précoce et d’un traitement substitutif adapté avant toute procédure invasive pour améliorer le pronostic.
ABSTRACT
Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a rare but serious condition in infants, predominantly caused by trauma, whether accidental or inflicted (shaken baby syndrome). Non-traumatic causes, such as coagulation disorders, are less frequent but critical to identify. We report the case of a five-week-old girl, born at full term via spontaneous vaginal delivery without instrumentation, who did not receive vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and had no known history of trauma. Admitted for severe malaria with anemia, her condition worsened at 48 hours with the onset of signs of intracranial hypertension (bulging fontanelle, anisocoria, seizures) and persistent bleeding at puncture sites. Laboratory tests revealed a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and a low prothrombin time (40%), which corrected after vitamin K administration. Brain computed tomography confirmed a compressive left chronic subdural hematoma, requiring emergency craniotomy. The postoperative course was fatal in the intensive care unit. This case highlights the need to consider a coagulation disorder, particularly vitamin K deficiency or hemophilia, in any unexplained CSDH in an infant, especially in the absence of neonatal prophylaxis. It underscores the importance of early hemostasis screening and appropriate replacement therapy before any invasive procedure to improve prognosis.
Keywords
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
- 1. Jayawant S, Parr J. Outcome following subdural haemorrhages in infancy. Arch Dis Child. 2007;92(4):343-7.
- 2. Duhaimé AC, Christian CW, Rorke LB, et al. Nonaccidental head injury in infants--the "shaken baby syndrome". N Engl J Med. 1998;338(25):1822-9.
- 3. Aydin SO, Etli MU, Köylü RC, et al. Factors associated with nontraumatic spontaneous subdural hematomas in pediatric patients. Neuropediatrics. 2023;54(4):239-43.
- 4. Nouri A, Gondar R, Schaller K, Meling T. Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH): A review of the current state of the art. Brain Spine. 2021 ;1:100300.
- 5. Trenchs V, Curcoy AI, Navarro R, et al. Subdural haematomas and physical abuse in the first two years of life. Pediatr Radiol. 2009 ;39(7):678-82.
- 6. Epelman M, Daneman A, Blaser SI, et al. Differential diagnosis of intracranial cystic lesions at head US: correlation with CT and MR imaging. Radiographics. 2006;26(1):173-96.
- 7. Levin AV. Retinal hemorrhage in abusive head trauma. Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):961-70.
- 8. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Controversies concerning vitamin K and the newborn. Pediatrics. 2003;112(1 Pt 1):191-2.
- 9. World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on newborn health: guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017.
- 10. Sutor AH, von Kries R, Cornelissen EA, et al. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in infancy. Thromb Haemost. 1999;81(3):456-61.
- 11. Peyvandi F, Garagiola I, Young G. The past and future of haemophilia: diagnosis, treatments, and its complications. Lancet. 2016;388(10040):187-97.
- 12. Srivastava A, Brewer AK, Mauser-Bunschoten EP, et al. Guidelines for the management of hemophilia. Haemophilia. 2013 ;19(1):e1-47.
- 13. Kölker S, Christensen E, Leonard JV, et al. Diagnosis and management of glutaric aciduria type I – revised recommendations. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2011;34(3):677-94.
References
1. Jayawant S, Parr J. Outcome following subdural haemorrhages in infancy. Arch Dis Child. 2007;92(4):343-7.
2. Duhaimé AC, Christian CW, Rorke LB, et al. Nonaccidental head injury in infants--the "shaken baby syndrome". N Engl J Med. 1998;338(25):1822-9.
3. Aydin SO, Etli MU, Köylü RC, et al. Factors associated with nontraumatic spontaneous subdural hematomas in pediatric patients. Neuropediatrics. 2023;54(4):239-43.
4. Nouri A, Gondar R, Schaller K, Meling T. Chronic Subdural Hematoma (cSDH): A review of the current state of the art. Brain Spine. 2021 ;1:100300.
5. Trenchs V, Curcoy AI, Navarro R, et al. Subdural haematomas and physical abuse in the first two years of life. Pediatr Radiol. 2009 ;39(7):678-82.
6. Epelman M, Daneman A, Blaser SI, et al. Differential diagnosis of intracranial cystic lesions at head US: correlation with CT and MR imaging. Radiographics. 2006;26(1):173-96.
7. Levin AV. Retinal hemorrhage in abusive head trauma. Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):961-70.
8. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Controversies concerning vitamin K and the newborn. Pediatrics. 2003;112(1 Pt 1):191-2.
9. World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on newborn health: guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017.
10. Sutor AH, von Kries R, Cornelissen EA, et al. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in infancy. Thromb Haemost. 1999;81(3):456-61.
11. Peyvandi F, Garagiola I, Young G. The past and future of haemophilia: diagnosis, treatments, and its complications. Lancet. 2016;388(10040):187-97.
12. Srivastava A, Brewer AK, Mauser-Bunschoten EP, et al. Guidelines for the management of hemophilia. Haemophilia. 2013 ;19(1):e1-47.
13. Kölker S, Christensen E, Leonard JV, et al. Diagnosis and management of glutaric aciduria type I – revised recommendations. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2011;34(3):677-94.
