The role of free flaps in the treatment of persistent scalp osteomyelitis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of an extensive surgical debridement and simultaneous free flap repair in case of troublesome cranial osteomyelitis.

METHODS

Five patients with persistent, frontal bone osteomyelitis were treated with surgical debridement of the infected bone and reconstruction with a free flap. In all patients, osteomyelitis occurred after neurosurgical procedures and lasted from 1 to 7 years. A latissimus dorsi muscle flap with a split skin graft has been performed.

RESULTS

No flap failure occurred and donor site morbidity was negligible. No signs of osteomyelitis or soft tissue infection were observed during the mean follow-up period of 3.2 years. Furthermore, the contour of the cranium could be preserved without a need for bone grafts or implants.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, the combination of an extensive surgical debridement and a free flap transfer is demonstrated to be an effective treatment for "chronic" osteomyelitis of the cranium.