title: Free flap reconstruction for complex scalp and forehead defects with associated full-thickness calvarial bone resections.
abstract: Extensive defects of the scalp and forehead associated with calvarial bone resections demand complex reconstructions. Free flaps offer vascularized tissue of excellent quality and quantity. We report six patients with extensive scalp and forehead defects associated with calvarial bone resections reconstructed with free flaps. Five patients also required a cranioplasty. The flaps used were two anterolateral thigh flaps, one vastus lateralis flap, one myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap, one latissimus dorsi flap, and one radial forearm flap. All flaps survived with no partial necrosis. There were no donor site complications. One patient presented an exposure of the alloplastic material used for cranioplasty. We strongly recommend the use of free flaps for this kind of reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Capital Federal, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larrañaga
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franciosi
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzaro
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figari
keywords: Kopfhaut; Rekonstruktion; forehead; free flap; reconstruction; scalp