Piece of Skull Removed From Toddler After Fall

An 18-month-old boy had a piece of skull removed after he fell from a couch two months ago.

Eddie Kidd began screaming and crying in pain as both of his eyes immediately went black and a large lump formed on his head the moment he fell off the couch at his Queensland home last August 18.

His mum, Joanne Liberato took him to Nambour Hospital where an emergency CT scan revealed bleeding on the brain and a fractured skull, and so, Eddie was immediately flown to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane where he underwent emergency surgery.

However, the toddler’s condition became life threatening during surgery when the bleeding would not stop. Tests revealed the toddler had haemophilia, which was preventing his blood from clotting. “If they didn’t stop the bleeding he would have passed away,” Ms Liberato told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Yet, the complications did not end there, with the toddler contracting two infections since the fall.

To fight the first infection, doctors removed a piece of Eddie’s skull, cleaned it underneath and replaced it. However, the infection returned and doctors had no choice but to remove the piece of skull permanently.

Eddie is now awaiting further surgery where a piece of titanium will be fitted to replace the missing section of his skull, but the surgery cannot be done until he is free of infection for six months. A helmet now protects his missing skull, but it hinders him from playing as ‘the slightest bump or fall could result in internal bleeding in his joints.’

Ms Liberato told the Sunshine Coast Daily that the family had to be “as careful as possible” with Eddie. “His wound is still healing and he can’t wear the helmet for too long because he sweats and it can cause infection,” she said.

A GoFundMe page set up by Eddie’s cousin James Burnham to help Eddie’s family with the medical expenses.

Source: Essentialbaby.com.au