To observe the effects of axial vascular network flap of scalp or anterolateral thigh perforator flap with fascia lata on repairing defects after radical resection of scalp carcinoma in patients.

From February 2006 to December 2015, twenty-one patients with scalp carcinoma were admitted to our hospital, and the carcinoma invaded external lamina or full-thickness of skull and dura mater. After perfect preoperative examination, carcinoma and scalp tissue in 3 to 5 cm from the edge of carcinoma, external lamina or full-thickness of skull and invaded dura mater were resected and sentinel lymph nodes around carcinoma were cleaned in 3 to 4 days after admission. The postoperative defects with size reached from 11 cm×8 cm to 22 cm×18 cm. The flap transplantation was performed at the same time when quick frozen pathological examination results of resected scalp carcinoma margin tissue, skull, dura mater margin and basal tissue, and sentinel lymph nodes showed completely negative. Defects in 3 elderly patients were repaired by single or multiple axial scalp vascular network flaps, with the resected flaps size ranged from 12 cm×7 cm to 19 cm×14 cm. Defects in the other 18 patients were repaired by anterolateral thigh perforator flaps with fascia lata, with the resected flaps size ranged from 13 cm×10 cm to 23 cm×19 cm and the resected fascia lata size ranged from 8 cm×7 cm to 10 cm×10 cm. The head donor site of flap was repaired by medium thickness skin of head and back; the thigh donor site of flap was repaired by medium thickness skin of thigh on the same side. All patients gave up postoperative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other follow-up treatments.

After operation, the flap and skin in all patients survived completely, with no vascular crisis or other condition. During the follow-up for 6 months to 9 years, all patients showed good appearance except for baldness in operation area of head, with no obvious malformation in head donor site of flap and skin, no swollen external hernia in the brain tissue, and no local recurrence or distant metastasis of carcinoma. The appearance of thigh donor site of flap and skin was good, with normal muscle strength and movement of lower limbs.

Patients with scalp carcinoma were performed with radical resection of carcinoma, and axial vascular network flap of scalp or anterolateral thigh perforator flap with fascia lata were applied to repair the postoperative defects, with good appearance of head operation area and no local recurrence or distant metastasis of carcinoma.

Scalp; Neoplasms; Surgical flaps; Microsurgery