title: Split-thickness skin graft harvested from the scalp for the coverage of extensive temple or forehead defects in elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review our experience of facial reconstruction with split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) harvested from the scalp.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included all patients undergoing STSG harvested from the scalp for the reconstruction of extensive forehead or temple defects after cancer resection. We recorded the size of resection before surgery and after healing, and we calculated the resulting contraction rate. Time of healing and occurrence of complication were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients were included. Their mean age was 87 years, and the mean size of resection was 26 cm(2). The duration of healing at the donor site was shorter than 12 days, and pain levels were low. The rate of contraction at the recipient site was 11% after healing. Good morphologic outcomes were reported by both patients and surgeon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extensive forehead and temple defects can be covered in this way with a low morbidity; rapid, painless healing; and a high success rate, making this procedure particularly suitable for elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, 51 Ave. du Maréchal De Lattre De Tassigny, Créteil, France. julien.quilichini@gmail.com
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quilichini
authors.forename: Marc-David
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Benjoar
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hivelin
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lantieri
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005546:Forehead / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*