Scalp laceration

Background

Layers of the scalp and underlying structures.

Differential Diagnosis

Head trauma

• Traumatic brain injury
  • Intracranial hemorrhage
    • Intra-axial
      • Traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage
    • Extra-axial
      • Epidural hemorrhage
      • Subdural hemorrhage
      • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury
    • Elevated intracranial pressure
  • Mild traumatic brain injury
    • Clinical decision rules for head CT in trauma
    • Post-concussive syndrome
• Orbital trauma
• Maxillofacial trauma
• Scalp laceration
• Skull fracture
  • Basilar skull fracture
  • Skull fracture (peds)
• Pediatric head trauma
  • PECARN head trauma rule

Maxillofacial Trauma

• Ears
  • Auricular hematoma
• Nose
  • Nasal fracture
  • Nasal septal hematoma
• Oral
  • Dental trauma
  • Lip laceration
  • Tongue laceration
• Other face
  • Le Fort fractures
  • Mandible fracture
• Zygomatic arch fracture
• Zygomaticomaxillary (tripod) fracture
• Related
  • Head trauma (main)
    • Skull fracture
    • Skull fracture (peds)
    • Basilar skull fracture
  • Orbital trauma
    • Eyelid laceration
  • Scalp laceration

Management

• Scalp laceration can be repaired with staples or if the patient has enough hair with Hair Apposition Technique by twisting hair together and using dermabond.
• Can bleed a lot, consider figure of 8 stitch to help with hemostasis
• Often accompanied by hematomas which may require evacuation for proper skin alignment

See Also

Special Lacerations by Body Part

• Head
  • Conjunctival laceration
  • Ear laceration
  • Eyelid laceration
  • Lip laceration
  • Scalp laceration
  • Tongue laceration
• Hand
  • Fingertip amputation
  • Nailbed laceration
• Other
  • Bites
  • General laceration repair (main)