UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Umbilical Cord Problems

Category: Pediatrics

Keywords: Delayed Umbilical Cord Separation, Omphalitis, Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (PubMed Search)

Posted: 2/29/2008 by Sean Fox, MD (Updated: 1/2/2025)
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Umbilical Cord Problems

Delayed Umbilical Separation
- Normal Time for cord separation = 1 – 8 weeks postnatal age.
- Common Reasons for Delayed Separation:
  - h/o Neonatal Sepsis and antibiotic administration
  - h/o Prematurity
  - h/o C-Section delivery
  - h/o Low Birth Weight
- Rare, yet most concerning reason for Delayed Separation:
  - Immuno-Deficiency – Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency type 1 (LAD-1)
    - Life-threatening
Omphalitis
- Infection of the remnant of the umbilical cord
- More common in developing countries
- Staph. aureus is most common organism cultured
- Complication from:
  - Spontaneous Evisceration
  - Necrotizing Fasciiis of scrotum and/or penis
  - Peritonitis
  - Intra-abdominal abscesses
- Early detection is paramount