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Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2012; 09(01): 62-63
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnt.2012.04.011
Case report
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Post-traumatic infection induced scalp necrosis – An unusual complication

Amandeep Kumar
a   Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room Number 720, 7th Floor, Cardioneurosciences Centre, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029 Tel.: +91 9958873574., India   Email: aman_jagdevan@yahoo.co.in
,
Sumit Sinha
,
Ashok Kumar Mahapatra
b   Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room Number 720, 7th Floor, Cardioneurosciences Centre, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029 Tel.: +91 11 26593291, +91 9868398073, India   Email: akmahapatra_22000@yahoo.com
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Further Information

Publication History

16 February 2012

25 March 2012

Publication Date:
05 April 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction

Scalp wounds usually heal very well and necrosis of scalp is very rare due to its extensive vascularity. We present a case of scalp necrosis as an unusual complication of road traffic injury.

Case report

A 50-year old male with post-traumatic quadriplegia due to C5 fracture dislocation and scalp laceration presented to us. Patient developed scalp necrosis after 5 days. Wound cultures grew Acinetobacter baumanii.

Conclusion

Despite extensive vascularity, post-traumatic wounds with superadded infection can rarely lead to scalp necrosis. Thorough early wound debridement can help in preventing this rare but devastating complication.

Keywords

Post-traumatic - Scalp necrosis - Superficial temporal artery - Thrombosis - Infection
 

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