Recurrent Scalp Autografting in Pediatric Major Burns: A 20 Year Follow Up Case Study

Accidents involving burns affect a large part of the world's population, particularly vulnerable children. Treating children with extensive burns is challenging because of their smaller body surface area. The scalp serves as an important donor site for skin grafts in such cases due to its characteristics that enable faster healing. This case report describes a nine-month-old child with extensive burns on the lower limbs caused by direct flame. The child underwent multiple stages of surgical treatment involving early debridement and partial skin grafting, with the scalp being used as the donor site for the skin grafts in four surgical interventions over two months of hospitalization. This study provides an updated review on the use of the scalp in children with extensive burns to improve understanding of surgical treatment and long-term outcomes for severely burned children. The article also discusses the clinical progress, surgical procedures, and 20-year follow-up after the burn, aiming to advance knowledge in this area for the benefit of future patients with severe burns. The purpose of this article is to report on the clinical use of the scalp as a recurrent donor site for skin grafts in a pediatric burn patient and to evaluate the longterm outcomes of this treatment method.