| Description |
The purpose of this study was to document a normal range of measures observed in cranial transillumination obtained from testing neurologically intact full-term infants. Ranges, means, and standards deviations in millimeters of transilluminated light of five regions of the skull, i.e., anterior fontanel, frontal midline, left biparietal, right biparietal, and occipital midline regions, were determined. Additional variables, e.g. molding, age when tested, sex, birth weight, type of delivery, head circumference, and size of the anterior fontanel, were analyzed to ascertain if there was any relationship between these variables and the amount of light transilluminated. The study was conducted at the Latter-day Saints Hospital during a 3-week time period. Forty-seven infants were tested between the twenty -fourth and seventy-second hours of life. Parental informed consent was obtained prior to conducting the transillumination procedure. The data were analyzed through the University of Utah Computer Center utilizing a Univac computer. A breakdown program and P Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient were obtained. More light was observed in the anterior fontanel and frontal midline regions than the biparietal areas and more in the biparietal areas than the occipital areas. Generally, the amount of transilluminated light seemed to decrease from the anterior to posterior regions of the head when suture lines were open or adjacent. When the sagittal suture line was overriding there was an increase in the amount of transillumination observed in the frontal midline area. Total transilluminated light, i.e., the sum of the millimeter reading for the five skull areas, was also considered for each infant. The mean was 30.02 millimeters. Standard deviation was 5.77 millimeters. Thirty-one infants scored in this range. Fourteen infants scored in the second standard deviation. Two infants scored above the second standard deviation. These infants were presented. Increasing amounts of light were noted in infants tested from 24 to 37 hours of age, then the amount of transilluminated light showed a slight decline. This trend should be further investigated. Problems and concerns noted during the study as well a recommendations and implications for future research in this areas were discussed. |
