RECONSTRUCTION OF POST BURN ALOPECIA-a case report

Post burn deformity of scalp continues to test plastic surgeons innovation. Post burn alopecia offers multiple treatment options depending on the location and extent of alopecia. 25 year old male presented to us with a large post burn alopecia in right temporal region, following a childhood scalds. He had multiple facial post burn scars with ectropion of right lower eyelid and distortion of eyebrow. Tissue expansion from the remaining scalp was done, for it provides a hair bearing scalp and also an opportunity to create side burns. Eyebrow and eyelid were managed with a contracture release and full thickness graft. At one year follow up patient has a fully restored hair bearing scalp and an aesthetically pleasing face. Keyword :Post burn alopecia, ectropion lower lid, eyebrow distortion, tissue expander, FTSG Scalp reconstruction usually presents a challenge to plasticsurgeon due to several factors including inelastic nature of scalpand special hairy nature of scalp skin1 .Scalp expansion has many advantages including no new undulydisfiguring defects, the avoidance of a distant flap, maintainssensation naive, good color and texture match, preservation of hairbearing quality and increased vascularity of elevated expanded skinflaps. However, there are several disadvantages to expansion suchas frequent visit for inflation, discomfort and period of increaseddeformity during the time of inflation, also in pediatric populationemotional disturbances may accompany the use of tissueexpansion 2 .