Early tissue expansion to close a traumatic defect of scalp and pericranium.

A case is presented in which an extensive area of traumatically denuded skull bone was successfully closed using a tissue expanded, hair-bearing scalp rotation flap, following expander insertion on the third day after injury. No split skin grafting was required and, in view of the high quality of cosmesis achieved, it is recommended that the technique be considered for other cases of acute traumatic soft tissue loss.