American Society of Hirudotherapy

Successful management of scalp avulsion with full-thickness graft

Case report published in Clin Case Rep (2022)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Case reportClinical LiteratureAlmoshantaf et al. · Clinical case reports, 2022

Abstract

Scalp avulsion injuries are one of the life-threatening traumatic injuries. Rapid management in the emergency department is vital to the successful rescue of an avulsed scalp. There are many replantation methods to treat scalp avulsion, so the best aesthetic and functional results are achieved. Skin grafting, free flaps, microvascular surgery, and hyperbaric oxygen are all suitable for reconstructive plans. We report a rare case of a scalp avulsion injury in a female due to an entanglement of a headscarf in a motorized machine resulting in defects and tissue loss of the hair-bearing skin, nasal area, forehead, left ear, and bilateral eyelids and eyebrows. Preoperative management included early blood transfusion, intravenous fluids, and wound compression after rapid physical examination. Reconstructive surgery was performed using a full-thickness skin graft and the outcomes were pristine. There are no clear guidelines to determine which reconstructive method is superior to another in each condition. Our case demonstrates that relatively primitive methods like skin grafting can give greater results if done with circumspection.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeCase ReportsJournal Article

Summary

A scalp avulsion caused by headscarf entanglement in a motorized machine was reconstructed with a full-thickness skin graft, achieving excellent outcomes and showing that simple grafting can succeed when performed carefully.

Context

This case report describes successful reconstruction of a severe scalp avulsion injury in a female patient — involving hair-bearing skin, nose, forehead, ear, and eyelids — using a full-thickness skin graft, with pristine outcomes. The abstract discusses emergency management including blood transfusion, fluid resuscitation, and various reconstructive options (skin grafting, free flaps, microvascular surgery, hyperbaric oxygen). There is no mention of leeches, hirudotherapy, hirudin, or leech-derived substances. Leech therapy was not used in this case.

Citation

Reference (Vancouver style)

Almoshantaf MB, Swed S, Hajjar A, Alshawaf A, Nabhan A, Zetani B, et al. Successful management of scalp avulsion with full-thickness graft. Clin Case Rep. 2022;10(7):e6094. doi:10.1002/ccr3.6094. PMID: 35903513

Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.

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