[Planning of a local flap of expanded scalp for repair of alopecia cicatrisata].

Tissue expansion of scalp opens a new way for the treatment of alopecia cicatrisata. From May 1986 to April 1988, 56 cases of alopecia cicatrisata and skull outcrop had been repaired by Chinese tissue expander in our department. All cases got good results. Of them, the area of alopecia was over 120 cm2 and the greatest one (320 cm2) consisting of two third of the total scalp in 21 cases. There were 49 cases repaired by one expansion and other 7 cases followed by a secondary expansion. The characteristics of the expanded scalp and the common types of local flap design had been discussed. It was applicable for all kinds of alopecia cicatrisata and both for children (over 3 yrs) and adults. The results of scalp expansion in children revealed superior than that in adults. We considered that the repairing of alopecia cicatrisata by scalp expansion had more advantages than other methods.