Alopecia: A Surprising Birth Injury

It is normal for newborns to enter the world without much hair on their heads. Those that have hair at birth are likely to lose some of it as a natural part of the developmental cycle. But in some rare cases, a birth injury may cause alopecia, which is a condition that is characterized by the loss of or inability to grow hair in defined patches.

The hair on the scalp is most commonly affected in instances where the alopecia was caused by a birth injury. This is because these occurrences of alopecia are tied to a condition known as caput succedaneum, which is an injury to the head. It is commonly a consequence of vacuum deliveries, which involve the application of forceful traction to the scalp to aid in the extraction of a newborn during a difficult birth.

The suction causes swelling and bruising of the scalp when excess or prolonged pressure is used. In the affected region of the scalp, damage to the tissue caused by the vacuum can result in the follicle-bearing tissues to die. As a result, hair may fall out in a distinct region outlined by the injury site and may not ever grow in again.

While the aesthetic problems, and their emotional consequences, associated with this type of alopecia (as opposed to alopecia totalis, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes the loss of all body hair) can be corrected by cosmetic procedures, the emotional and financial costs can be considerable. It may be advisable to pursue a legal action against the healthcare providers whose irresponsibility caused your child’s birth injury in order to get the compensation you need to deal with these costs.

Contact Us

If your child has developed alopecia or any other birth injury as a result of a vacuum delivery, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130.