Aplasia cutis of the scalp: a report of two cases

Abstract

Congenital absence of skin is rare; it usually presents in the midline over the vertex of the skull. There may be a lack of skin only, but a defect in the skull, with or without dura, may also be present. Two cases of congenital scalp defect have been treated. A male neonate was seen on the day of birth and the soft tissue defect was closed by a rotation flap. A female baby of 2 months was seen for recurrent episodes of severe wound infection and profuse bleeding. The infection could only be sufficiently treated after coverage of the soft tissue defect with a scalp flap. Scalp defects should be treated operatively in cases where spontaneous epithelization from the edges of the wound cannot be expected to be complete within a few weeks. Skin defects wider than 1 cm. should preferably be covered by scalp flaps. Bony defects should always be covered by skin flaps or grafts.