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Scalp Laceration
Aka: Scalp Laceration, Scalp Repair, Scalp Wound, Hair Apposition Technique
- See Also
- Laceration Repair
- Ear Laceration
- Precautions
- Exclude significant Closed Head Injury
- Hemostasis is critical
- Physiology: Scalp Layers
- Skin
- Connective Tissue (contains vessels, nerves)
- Aponeurosis (galea, thick)
- Loose areolar tissue
- Pericranium (thin)
- Management
- See Laceration Repair for general wound management and closure
- Hemostasis is primary initial concern
- Scalp Wounds bleed heavily
- Apply direct pressure
- Consider Raney Clips or Running O-Suture to temporize closure
- Consider figure of eight subcutaneous stitch to stop focal heavy bleeding
- Galea
- Thin layer (differentiate from the very thin, friable pericranium that does not require closure)
- Typically adherent to overlying connective tissue and skin
- Attaches to the occipitofrontalis muscle
- Galeal Laceration >0.5 cm should be repaired (2-0 or 3-0 Absorbable Suture)
- Closure protects from infection to skull
- Closure also maintains symmetry of the occipitofrontalis muscle (otherwise may cause forehead wrinkling)
- Skin closure with staples (often preferred), or Nylon Suture (3-0 or 4-0)
- Staples should have a 1 mm space above skin to allow for easier removal
- Avoid compressing the stapler to firmly into the scalp (light pressure is sufficient and preferred)
- Avoid trapping foreign bodies within the wound
- Avoid trapping hair within the wound (risk of inflammation, scarring)
- Clip the hairs with scissors
- Mat down the remaining hairs with surgi-lube to push out of the way
- Technique: Hair Apposition
- Indications
- Linear Scalp Laceration <10 cm
- Minimum of 3 cm scalp hair
- Clean wound
- Technique
- Hold several strands of hair from each side of a Scalp Laceration
- Cross the two strands, twist for one full rotation and then pull each to either wound edge
- Apply several drops of Tissue Adhesive where the hairs cross
- Repeat once or twice along the course of the Laceration
- Follow-up
- Hair may be washed after 48 hours of procedure
- Advantages
- Less scarring than with standard suturing
- No shaving or suturing needed
- No increased risk of infection or bleeding
- Resources
- Hair Apposition Technique
- https://lacerationrepair.com/alternative-wound-closure/hair-apposition-technique/
- YouTube
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV8zbMoDkbc
- References
- Ong (2002) Ann Emerg Med 40:19-26 [PubMed]
- Hock (2002) Ann Emerg Med 40(1): 19-26 [PubMed]
- References
- Forsch (2017) Am Fam Physician 95(10): 628-36 [PubMed]