Local and regional flaps in scalp reconstructions: A retrospective analysis

The study demonstrates the broad applicability of local and regional flaps for the treatment of scalp defects of varying size and etiology. We aimed to verify whether the following variables correlate with the postoperative complication rate, length of hospitalization, and postoperative inpatient course, i.e., etiology of the defect, surgical technique, duration of surgery, defect size, localization, comorbidities, and neoadjuvant radiation. We examined whether the complications had an impact on the hospitalization and postoperative inpatient course. The inclusion criteria were defects in the scalp, reconstruction between 2010 and 2021, and use of local or regional fasciocutaneous flap. In this study, the following parameters were considered such as gender, age, main diagnosis, comorbidities, defect etiology, size and localization, type of surgical treatment, surgery duration, hospitalization, postoperative inpatient course, local complications, and revisions. A total of 39 patients (mean age: 56.5 ± 20.5 years) were selected. Postoperative complications did not correlate with defect etiology, surgical technique, defect size, defect localization, surgery duration, comorbidities, and local radiation. Postoperative complications, comorbidities, and neoadjuvant radiotherapy influenced the length of hospitalization. The postoperative inpatient course was influenced by the surgery duration and postoperative complications. Defect etiology, surgical technique, defect size, and defect localization had no impact on the overall hospitalization. Local and regional flaps are safe and reliable options for the treatment of scalp defects up to 80 cm². Their use in the study resulted in excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes. The risk of complications and revisions is considered as low.