Extensive Scalp Avulsion Injuries Management Options And Experience At Mayo Hospital, Lahore.

Abstract

Nineteen patients with extensive scalp avulsion injuries were treated at the Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore over a period of seven years. Thirteen (70%) of the patients were females. The size of defect varied from a minimum of 30 cm 2 to a maximum of 650cm2. All patients, except one, received primary care elsewhere. Eleven (60%) patients were managed by split skin grafting, six (35%) needed drilling or chiseling of the outer skull table followed by split skin grafting and two patients had reconstruction with local flaps. Majority (85%) of patients required tow or less operative procedures. The mean hospital stay was 40.5 days. It has been shown that drilling or chiseling of outer table of skull followed by delayed split skin grafting is an effective way to manage large full thickness scalp defects where replantation or free tissue transfer is either not feasible or possible. Secondary reconstruction following tissue expansion may be employed for better aesthetic results.