Lijecnicki vjesnik 2016;138(7-8)
THE SCALP AS A SPLIT-THICKNESS GRAFT DONOR IN THE TREATMENT OF A MASSIVE THERMAL INJURY
Rok Kralj, Zoran Barčot, José Alejandro Varas Fuenzalida, Tomislav Kifer, Diana Butković, Ivo Vukasović, Božidar Župančić
Abstract
We are presenting our initial experience with the utilization of the scalp as a donor for split thickness skin grafting in the treatment of massive thermal injuries. Rapid donor reepithelization, absence of hypertrophic scarring in the donor area, inconspicuous donor area and a large area for the procurement of grafts in the pediatric population are the advantages that are emphasized in the literature. The outcome in a 3-year-old boy who suffered a burn injury from an open fire in the family house on the 57% of his total body surface area (48% full thickness burn) showed that the “take rate”, in the absence of a massive local infection, was around 80% and that the scalp can be utilized again as a donor area after a period of 14 days. Folliculitis and alopecia are complications that should be kept in mind when using this technique.