Microsurgical Replantation of a Two-Segment Total Scalp Avulsion

Total scalp avulsion is a rare and severe injury that may be life threatening and can result in devastating disfigurement and psychological trauma. Microsurgical hair-bearing scalp replantation is considered the procedure of choice and should be performed by a skilled surgical team. Replantation of a multifragmented scalp is even rarer and shows random results. Only 2 patients have been reported, resulting in partial or total necrosis of implanted fragments. The authors describe the successful replantation of a totally avulsed 2-segment scalp in a 63-year-old woman whose hair was entrapped in the propeller shaft of a ship. The avulsed scalp involved both eyebrows, the frontal region, the upper part of both ears, and most of the occipital portion. After initial management including correction of hemorrhagic shock, the patient underwent emergency scalp replantation by microsurgical anastomosis of 3 arteries and 4 veins and the use of 2 vein grafts.According to authors' experience, multifragmented scalp avulsion imposes emergency relocation using as many microsurgical sutures as possible and implementation of vein grafts to ensure optimal revascularization of the avulsed scalp.