title: Scar formation after skin injury to the human foetus in utero or the premature neonate.
abstract: A macroscopically visible scar was present at birth in three infants with a history of injury during amniocentesis at 16-20 weeks' gestation. In several neonates born between 21 and 31 weeks' gestation, chemical injury to the skin caused by extravasation of calcium gluconate healed by formation of a large scar. In the infant born at 21 weeks, biopsy of the injured area showed infiltration by large numbers of neutrophils and macrophages. It appears that a very immature neonate can mount a prominent inflammatory reaction and that both a midtrimester foetus and a very immature neonate heal injuries to the skin by scar formation and not by scarless healing.
authors.affiliation: Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology / Q000293:injuries*