gms | German Medical Science

32. Jahrestagung der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verbrennungsbehandlung (DAV 2014)

15.01. - 18.01.2014, Arosa, Schweiz

Split-thickness skin harvesting from the scalp in children – long-term cosmetic results up to 30 years

Meeting Abstract

  • Rosmarie Zgraggen
  • Kathrin Neuhaus
  • Martin Meuli
  • Clemens Schiestl

Deutschsprachige Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verbrennungsbehandlung. 32. Jahrestagung der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verbrennungsbehandlung (DAV 2014). Arosa, Schweiz, 15.-18.01.2014. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2014. Doc14dav43

doi: 10.3205/14dav43, urn:nbn:de:0183-14dav436

Published: June 18, 2014

© 2014 Zgraggen et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Background: Multiple studies showed the scalp to be a reliable donor site in pediatric burns. To date sufficient information concerning long-term cosmetic results of the scalp is still missing. The longest follow-up time found in previous studies is 10 years. The purpose of this study was to analyse long-term outcome of cosmetic results of the scalp up to 30 years after harvesting and to examine harvesting damage revealed through natural alopecia in adulthood.

Methods: This study includes 32 burn patients hospitalized in the Pediatric Burn Center of the University Children's Hospital Zurich between 1977 and 1987. The inclusion criteria were:

1.
admission to the hospital because of a burn injury
2.
at least one skin harvest from the scalp due to burn injury in childhood and
3.
a current age of 30 years or older.

The participants medical records were reviewed. A clinical examination of their scalp focusing on harvesting damage and natural alopecia was performed. The patients were questioned about negative perceptions concerning their scalp and whether their hair growth was comparable to those of close family members. In addition, the patients were asked if they were still affected by their burn injuries in everyday life.

Results: The follow-up time of those 32 participants was 27.09 ± 3.04 years (mean ± standard deviation). Percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 25.59 ± 3.42% (range, 6 to 60). The mean number of sequential scalp donor site harvests was 1.69 ±0.96 (range, 1 to 5). No harvesting damage due to natural alopecia and no abnormal scaring was observed. Ten participants had varying numbers of alopetic spots. No patient reported any negative perceptions. All patients had normal age-related hair growth comparable to those of close family members. Thirteen participants reported still being affected by their burn injuries in everyday life.

Conclusion: This study shows that the long-term cosmetic results of the scalp up to 30 years after skin harvesting in childhood are very satisfactory. No disfigurement is to be feared when having natural alopecia in adulthood.