Objective: To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of in situ re-grafting of the scalp skin flap after its covering of the exposed devitalized skull following electrical injury.
Methods: The scalp wounds were debrided during the early postburn stage and the necrotic skull was preserved. The wounds with necrotic skull were then covered with an adjacent scalp skin flap. The grafted scalp skin flap was re-grafted back to the donor site 3 - 6 months after the first operation. The remaining scalp wound with fresh granulation tissue was recovered with split-thickness skin grafts.
Results: Ten scalp skin flaps were applied in 8 cases of electrical injury of the skull with the maximal defect of 24 cm x 10 cm and all survived very well free from infection or necrosis. The wounds were closed primarily.
Conclusion: In situ re-grafting of the scalp skin flap after its covering of the exposed devitalized skull following electrical injury shortened the wound healing time with satisfactory contour.