TY - JOUR
T1 - The Role of the Visor Flap in Scalp Reconstruction
T2 - A Case Series of 21 Patients
AU - Ellis, Marco
AU - Hwang, Lisa
AU - Ford, Ni Ka
AU - Slavin, Konstantin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
PY - 2018/12/1
Y1 - 2018/12/1
N2 - BACKGROUND Full-thickness scalp defects pose a reconstructive problem, especially in the setting of infection, chemotherapy/radiation, and underlying cranial defects. Current options include dermal matrices, skin grafts, and local flaps. Local flaps often fail, requiring subsequent microvascular free flap reconstruction. OBJECTIVE To describe the visor flap, a novel bipedicled advancement flap design, and its role in reconstruction of scalp defects. METHODS A retrospective review of 21 adult patients who developed scalp defects reconstructed using the visor flap from 2013 to 2017. The visor flap is a large bipedicled advancement flap design with a triangular extension at the base, which allows redistribution of a large surface area of the scalp. RESULTS All 21 patients achieved complete and viable soft tissue coverage of the recipient site, but 19.0% developed complications unrelated to flap viability, requiring reoperation (infected bone flap, epidural hematoma, and recurrent glioblastoma with subdural abscess). Only 1 patient required conversion to free flap reconstruction due to cerebrospinal fluid leak. Etiologies included cancer (76.1%), cerebrovascular disease (19.0%), and traumatic brain injury (4.8%). Preoperative radiation (42.9%), bone/hardware exposure (57.1%), and previous craniotomy (85.7%) were widely prevalent. Defect size ranged from 3 to 50 cm 2 (mean, 16.9 cm 2), and flap size ranged from 90 to 500 cm 2 (mean, 222 cm 2). CONCLUSION The visor flap provides an innovative solution for closure of scalp defects. This technique optimizes immediate closure of tissue compromised by infection or chemotherapy/radiation without burning bridges to more complex reconstructive options.
AB - BACKGROUND Full-thickness scalp defects pose a reconstructive problem, especially in the setting of infection, chemotherapy/radiation, and underlying cranial defects. Current options include dermal matrices, skin grafts, and local flaps. Local flaps often fail, requiring subsequent microvascular free flap reconstruction. OBJECTIVE To describe the visor flap, a novel bipedicled advancement flap design, and its role in reconstruction of scalp defects. METHODS A retrospective review of 21 adult patients who developed scalp defects reconstructed using the visor flap from 2013 to 2017. The visor flap is a large bipedicled advancement flap design with a triangular extension at the base, which allows redistribution of a large surface area of the scalp. RESULTS All 21 patients achieved complete and viable soft tissue coverage of the recipient site, but 19.0% developed complications unrelated to flap viability, requiring reoperation (infected bone flap, epidural hematoma, and recurrent glioblastoma with subdural abscess). Only 1 patient required conversion to free flap reconstruction due to cerebrospinal fluid leak. Etiologies included cancer (76.1%), cerebrovascular disease (19.0%), and traumatic brain injury (4.8%). Preoperative radiation (42.9%), bone/hardware exposure (57.1%), and previous craniotomy (85.7%) were widely prevalent. Defect size ranged from 3 to 50 cm 2 (mean, 16.9 cm 2), and flap size ranged from 90 to 500 cm 2 (mean, 222 cm 2). CONCLUSION The visor flap provides an innovative solution for closure of scalp defects. This technique optimizes immediate closure of tissue compromised by infection or chemotherapy/radiation without burning bridges to more complex reconstructive options.
KW - Bipedicled scalp advancement flap
KW - Complex scalp wound
KW - Full-thickness scalp defects
KW - Scalp reconstruction
KW - Visor flap
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U2 - 10.1093/ons/opy042
DO - 10.1093/ons/opy042
M3 - Article
C2 - 29554345
AN - SCOPUS:85056591163
SN - 2332-4252
VL - 15
SP - 651
EP - 655
JO - Operative Neurosurgery
JF - Operative Neurosurgery
IS - 6
ER -