Experiences in surgical repair of a totally avulsed scalp

A case of total scalp avulsion is described in surgical detail. The neurovascular bundles remained nearly untouched on the surface of the galea aponeurotica. Only one frontal branch of the left temporal artery was found to serve as a nutrient vessel for the whole scalp. Three veins around the scalp circumference supplied the venous drainage. The right-dorsal part of the scalp underwent necrosis, obviously because of internal disruption on the capillary level. This area had to be skin-grafted secondarily. Mechanical aspects in respect of the neuro-vascular situation are discussed theoretically and some advice on the surgical approach is derived from our experience.