Perinatal Gangrene of the Buttock: A Spontaneous Condition

To the Editor.— Neonatal gangrene of the buttock is a rare condition mainly due to iatrogenic causes. Most cases occur after umbilical artery catheterization, 1,2 exchange transfusions, 3 and cord injections by means of syringes. 4 Exceptional causes of gangene during the neonatal period include infections and hypernatraemic dehydration of infancy. 5 The following case supports that perinatal gangrene of the buttock may also arise as a spontaneous condition. Report of a Case.— A 2-day-old male was delivered spontaneously at term with vertex presentation. His birth weight was 3,100 g. The mother, a 23-year-old woman (gravida 1), had no known medical problems prior to the delivery. Approximately 30 minutes after birth, a nurse noted a red patch on the left buttock and perineal region of the infant. During the next hours, the lesion became swollen, and a purple discoloration appeared and extended to the scrotum (Fig 1). Examination revealed a