The Efficacy of Local Flaps in the Treatment of Traumatic Scalp Defects

Background Scalp defects represent a therapeutic challenge. The aim of this study is to present our experience with local and regional flaps in the treatment of trauma-induced scalp defects. Furthermore, a comparison with other surgical techniques was performed. Methods A retrospective evaluation of patient records was performed. Only patients who underwent surgery using local flaps between January 2010 and September 2020 due to traumatic scalp defects were included in the study. Results In all, 10 cases were identified (3 females, 7 males, average age at surgery of 46.5 years [range: 18–82 years]). Six patients underwent surgery due to tissue defects and four due to scar keloids. Three patients experienced minor postoperative complications, one of which required additional surgery. The mean defect size was 35.75 cm2 (range: 4–79 cm2) among the four patients where the defect size could be determined retrospectively. The mean inpatient follow-up was 12.4 days (range: 2–34 days). Conclusions Local flaps can be widely used. In carefully selected cases, they have the fewest disadvantages of all surgical techniques. In our experience, large angiosomes of the main scalp arteries allow the treatment of defects larger than 30 cm2 with local flaps. Our experience also suggests that the dimensions of flap length to flap width can exceed a ratio of 2:1 in the scalp.

Pressure-painful scalp arteries in children and adolescents suffering from migraine

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of pressure-painful scalp arteries in children and adolescents with migraine. Materials and methods: Pressure-painful points on scalp arteries were searched in 130 consecutive children (6–12 years old) and adolescents (>13 years old) affected with migraine, 89 females and 41 males, and in 40 age-matched controls. Results: In the absence of a migraine episode, we examined 76 patients: 54 (71.1%) reported one or more pressure-painful arteries and 22 reported none. Of the 40 controls, pressure-painful arteries were present in 11, with a highly significant difference (p < 0.0001). During a migraine attack, of the 54 patients examined, 43 (79.6 %) reported one or more pressure-painful arteries and 11 reported none. The arteries most frequently painful were the frontal branch and the superficial temporal artery. Conclusions: Scalp arteries are frequently painful on pressure in children and adolescents with migraine, both in the absence of and during a migraine attack. Painful arteries suggest hypersensitivity of periarterial nociceptive afferents.