ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES OF RECONSTRUCTION FOR MAJOR SCALP DEFECTS USING LOCAL FLAPS OF VASCULAR PEDICLE

Abstract

Objectives: Assess treatment outcomes of major scalp defects using local flaps of vascular pedicle. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study on 16 patients with major scalp defects who received surgery at Center of Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery, Military Central Hospital 108 from September 2016 to April 2021. Participants were received reconstruction surgery to cover their defects using local flaps of vascular pedicle. Results: 15/16 participants were reconstructed using temporal fasciocutaneous flap based on superficial temporal artery pedicle, 1/16 participant was used skin flap based on occipital artery pedicle. Short-term results showed that 14/16 reconstruction flaps had good vitality and covered 100% of the defects. For each participant, the average surgery duration lasted 140 minutes, and the average post-operative hospitalization duration was 12 days. Long-term results showed that 16/16 flaps had good vitality and 100% coverage. Conclusions: reconstruction of major scalp defects using local flaps of vascular pedicle brought good coverage, high vitality, and was safe for patients, especially the elderly with many underlying diseases.