THE SCALP AS A SPLIT-THICKNESS GRAFT DONOR IN THE TREATMENT OF A MASSIVE THERMAL INJURY

: We are presenting our initial experience with the utilization of the scalp as a donor for split thickness skin grafting in the treatment of massive thermal injuries. Rapid donor reepithelization, absence of hypertrophic scarring in the donor area, inconspicuous donor area and a large area for the procurement of grafts in the pediatric population are the advantages that are emphasized in the literature. The outcome in a 3-year-old boy who suffered a burn injury from an open fire in the family house on the 57% of his total body surface area (48% full thickness burn) showed that the “take rate”, in the absence of a massive local infection, was around 80% and that the scalp can be utilized again as a donor area after a period of 14 days. Folliculitis and alopecia are complications that should be kept in mind when using this technique.