The Expanded Flying-Wings Scalp Flap for Aesthetic Hemiscalp Alopecia Reconstruction in Children

Between June 1998 and November 2008, a study was conducted on 18 children, aged 5 to 12, who had severe hemiscalp alopecia due to burns. They underwent scalp reconstruction using the "flying-wings" scalp flap technique, which involved the use of a tissue expander under the scalp, inflated over 3 months, and then creating a flap that utilized both advancement and rotation to align with the hair growth direction of the recipient area. The technique was successful in covering the hemiscalp loss in 17 patients completely and in 1 patient mostly, with one patient requiring a secondary tissue expansion for the remaining lesion. All patients achieved good aesthetic outcomes with hair growth direction matching the recipient site. The study concluded that tissue expansion with the "flying-wings" design is a simple, safe, and efficient method for reconstructing large areas of scalp loss.