Infantile Scalp Hemangiomas: Surgical Management and Lessons Learned.

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are common benign vascular tumors in pediatric patients, often found on the scalp. While most IH naturally regress without intervention, surgical excision becomes necessary when severe anatomic or physiological complications arise. This review examines previously published case studies on pediatric scalp IH excisions, focusing on surgical outcomes and complications. A comprehensive search of the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) database identified 19 relevant case studies. Most patients were female, with a wide age range at the time of excision. Various anatomic locations and sizes of the hemangiomas were observed. The reviewed literature demonstrates that surgical excision of scalp IH can be performed with minimal complications, even for sizable tumors. Successful outcomes and low complication rates highlight the effectiveness of surgical intervention in cases of life-threatening IH sequelae. Further research is warranted to explore optimal timing, techniques, and adjunct therapies for surgical management of scalp IH.

Decision Considerations and Strategies for Lip Surgery in Patients with Cleft lip/Palate: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: To qualitatively assess surgeons decision making for lip surgery in patients with cleft lip/palate (CL/P). Design: Prospective, non-randomized, clinical trial. Setting: Clinical data institutional laboratory setting. Patients Participants: The study included both patient and surgeon participants recruited from four craniofacial centers. The patient participants were babies with a CL/P requiring primary lip repair surgery (n=16) and adolescents with repaired CL/P who may require secondary lip revision surgery (n=32). The surgeon participants (n=8) were experienced in cleft care. Facial imaging data that included 2D images, 3D images, videos, and objective 3D visual modelling of facial movements were collected from each patient, and compiled as a collage termed the Standardized Assessment for Facial Surgery (SAFS) for systematic viewing by the surgeons. Interventions: The SAFS served as the intervention. Each surgeon viewed the SAFS for six distinct patients (two babies and four adolescents) and provided a list of surgical problems and goals. Then an in-depth-interview (IDI) was conducted with each surgeon to explore their decision-making processes. IDIs were conducted either in person or virtually, recorded, and then transcribed for qualitative statistical analyses using the Grounded Theory Method. Results: Rich narratives/themes emerged that included timing of the surgery; risks/limitations and benefits of surgery; patient/family goals; planning for muscle repair and scarring; multiplicity of surgeries and their impact; and availability of resources. For diagnoses/treatments, surgeons agreed, and level of surgical experience was not a factor. Conclusions: The themes provided important information to populate a checklist of considerations to serve as a guide for clinicians.

Transillumination of an Anterior Fontanelle Dermoid Cyst.

Dermoid cysts are slowly growing benign lesions of ectodermal tissue that often occur in the anterior fontanelle. Clinicians often rely on a negative transillumination test to begin the process of correctly diagnosing a dermoid cyst. However, here the authors present a case of a 7-month-old girl who presents with a transilluminating dermoid cyst.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Adult Patients With an Orofacial Cleft: An Unseen Psychological Burden.

OBJECTIVES: Facial dysmorphic disorder (FDD), a variant of body dysmorphic disorder, occurs when individuals are preoccupied with perceived defects in their facial appearance. Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) requires many clinical interventions and has significant psychological impacts on a patient's perception of appearance. This study identified psychological burdens related to living as an adult with CL/P and characterizes the degree of FDD symptoms in an adult craniofacial population. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional case-control study using semi-structured interviews and symptom assessments at a university-based craniofacial center. Patients without CL/P undergoing non-cosmetic facial surgery were recruited as controls (n = 20). Patients with an orofacial cleft (n = 30) were recruited from medical and dental providers at the University of North Carolina. Body Dysmorphic Disorder-Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (BBD-YBOCS) scores were collected from a control population and patients with CL/P to assess FDD severity. RESULTS: Demographic factors such age, biological sex, and ethnicity had no significant impact on FDD symptom scores. Patient with CL/P were more likely to have significant FDD symptoms (BDD-YBOCS greater than 16) than patients without CL/P (OR 10.5, CI95 2.7-41.1), and had a mean difference in FDD symptoms scores of 10.04 (p < 0.0001; CI95 5.5-14.6). Patients with CL/P seen by a mental health provider in the past 3 months had 3-fold lower overall FDD symptom scores (OR 0.081; CI95 0.0085-0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with CL/P would benefit from treatment for cleft-specific needs and psychological support as they face unique stressors related to their appearance, including an increase in FDD-associated symptoms. This study emphasizes the importance of recognizing psychological symptoms and providing ongoing multidisciplinary care to adults with CL/P. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3; Individual case-control study Laryngoscope, 133:818-821, 2023.

Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of a Surgical Approach.

ABSTRACT: Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is an exceedingly rare disease that causes facial ulceration, most commonly at the nasal ala. The overall incidence of TTS is not known, with less than 150 cases published in the literature.We searched the United States National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) using the terms "Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome" and "TTS" as keywords. Publications in all languages were included if an English abstract was available. We reviewed 111 cases of TTS described in 75 publications from 1979 to 2021.Fourteen cases involved surgical reconstruction. Of these, the lesions completely healed in 7 cases (50%), recurred in 5 (36%), and were unspecified in 2 (14%). Reconstruction was completed in a 2 to 3-stage approach in 6 cases; of these, healing without recurrence was observed in 5 cases (83%). When donor tissue from the affected side was used as a basis for reconstruction, healing without recurrence was observed in 2 cases (50%). This is in comparison to the use of contralateral, sensate tissue in which there was healing without recurrence in all 3 cases (100%).The surgical management of TTS remains a topic of controversy. The rates of success remain comparable despite the use of various flap types. However, the use of contralateral, sensate flaps and a staged surgical approach appears to be effective based upon the best available evidence in the literature. Further prospective orretrospective controlled studies are necessary to make more reliable recommendations, though may be challenging given the rarity of TTS.

Fat-Free Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Scalp: Lipoma Without a Lipogenic Component.

ABSTRACT: Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a rare, benign subcutaneous neoplasm that typically occurs on the upper trunk or neck of middle-aged men. The diagnosis of SCL is often straightforward due to its characteristic clinical presentation and classic histologic features of admixed mature adipocytes and CD-34 positive bland spindle cells. However, the diagnosis can be elusive when low-fat and free-fat patterns occur. Due to the lack of lipogenic content and morphologic overlap, this rare tumor is often mistaken for other benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. The authors present the case of a middle-aged man with a fat-free SCL of the temporal scalp. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature ofa fat-free SCL involving the temporal scalp. With careful attention to the clinical context, histologic features, immunohistochemical profile, and cytogenetic abnormalities, the proper diagnosis of SCL without a lipogenic component can be achieved.

Malignant Melanoma Arising From a Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus in a 3-Year Old: Review of Diagnosis and Management.

INTRODUCTION: Giant congenital nevi (GCN), defined as abnormal collections of melanocytes with a diameter greater than 20 cm, occur in 1 in 20,000 births. The lifetime risk of malignant transformation in GCN is reported between 5% and 20% and most commonly occurs in the first 3 to 5 years of life. This article reviews the risk factors of malignant transformation and highlights the diagnostic challenges of malignant melanoma in the pediatric population utilizing a clinical report of a patient with GCN. CASE DESCRIPTION: A male patient with giant congenital nevus of the scalp with over 20 satellite nevi was evaluated at the authors' institution at 1 week of life. Beginning at 9 months of age, he underwent serial excision of GCN and satellite lesions. Initial pathology showed compound congenital melanocytic nevus. Subsequent pathology on serial excisions demonstrated compound nevus with clonal expansion of pigmented epithelioid melanocytoma (PEM). He then underwent complete excision of GCN. Pathology demonstrated malignant melanoma that was confirmed by consensus review with outside institutions. The patient was diagnosed with stage III metastatic melanoma after further imaging. He was treated with cervical nodal dissection and interferon alpha-2b. At the time of last visit, the patient had no evidence of melanoma. DISCUSSION: This case highlights the difficulties of clinical and pathologic diagnosis of malignant melanoma in the setting of GCN. Pathology can vary between biopsy sites and initial biopsies can suggest nonmalignant melanocytic lesions, as demonstrated in this patient's case. Correct histologic evaluation often requires input from a relatively few centers that treat a larger volume of childhood melanoma. Analysis of gene expression profiles aids in accurate diagnosis of PEM, proliferative nodule or melanoma. It is important to differentiate PEM, a low-grade, indolent melanoma, from malignant melanoma as the treatment differs significantly. Review of pathology by expert dermatopathologists from multiple institutions is vital for diagnostic accuracy, and patients with malignant transformation of GCN are best served by multidisciplinary teams.

Marjolin Ulcer: A Comprehensive Review.

GENERAL PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive review of Marjolin ulcer (MU) to assist clinicians in understanding the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of MU. TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES: After participating in this educational activity, the participant will:1. Describe the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of MU.2. Summarize the diagnostic and treatment approaches for patients who have an MU. ABSTRACT: This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of Marjolin ulcer (MU) to assist clinicians in understanding the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of MU. Marjolin ulcer presents with clear signs and symptoms of malignant degeneration in chronic wounds. It can be prevented by raising awareness and educating wound care providers appropriately about its signs and symptoms.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of Marjolin ulcer (MU) to assist clinicians in understanding the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of MU. Marjolin ulcer presents with clear signs and symptoms of malignant degeneration in chronic wounds. It can be prevented by raising awareness and educating wound care providers appropriately about its signs and symptoms.

Provision and Utilization of Team- and Community-Based Operative Care for Patients With Cleft Lip/Palate in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize operative care for cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) based on location (ie, from American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association [ACPA]-approved multidisciplinary teams or from community providers). DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database and State Ambulatory Surgery & Services Database databases for North Carolina from 2012 to 2015. SETTING/PATIENTS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical encounters for children with CL/P undergoing operative procedures were identified, classified by location as "Team" versus "Community," and characterized by demographic, geographic, clinical, and procedural factors. A secondary evaluation reviewed concordance of team and community practices with an ACPA guideline related to coordination of care. RESULTS: Three teams and 39 community providers performed a total of 3010 cleft-related procedures across 2070 encounters. Teams performed 69.7% of total volume and performed the majority of cleft procedures, including cleft lip repair, palate repair, alveolar bone grafting, and correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency. Community locations principally offered myringotomy and rhinoplasty. Team care was associated with higher guideline concordance. CONCLUSIONS: American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association -approved team-based care accounts for the majority of cleft-related care in North Carolina; however, a substantial volume of cleft-related procedures was provided by community providers, with 3 providers accounting for the vast majority of community cases.

Wound Healing Complications After Cranial Vault Reconstruction for Craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis is a congenital cranial malformation involving premature fusion of cranial sutures. Indications for surgical repair of craniosynostosis include elevation of intracranial pressure, which can result in impaired vision and mental disability, as well as correction of abnormal skull shape. Resorbable plating systems have become the preferred technique for bony fixation in the repair of craniosynostosis. Multiple studies demonstrate the safety and low complication rate of resorbable plating systems.However, there is no consensus on which plating system is superior for patient outcomes. This study aims to investigate how the polymer composition of resorbable plating systems utilized in cranial vault reconstruction contributes to wound healing complications. A retrospective chart review was performed at the institution between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2015. About 202 patients who underwent surgical repair of craniosynostosis were identified. The results showed that patients receiving the Biomet Lactosorb plating system were over twice as likely to have a wound complication within a year of surgery compared to other plating systems used at the institution. Wound complications continued to occur in the Biomet Lactosorb group at ≥180 days after surgery, whereas complications among the other plating systems occurred ≤80 days postoperatively. Half of all patients with wound complications had to undergo reoperation. These data demonstrate the effect of unique polymer compositions on wound healing, and will help to guide future clinical practice and industry development of resorbable plating systems.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Virtual Surgical Planning in Mandibular Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Because of the complex nature of osteocutaneous free flap mandibular reconstruction, modern technologies such as virtual surgical planning have become popularized to refine the procedure. Compared with usual care, virtual surgical planning has been suggested to reduce operative time and improve accuracy of outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of virtual surgical planning versus usual care in mandibular reconstruction. METHODS: A decision-analytic model was constructed to comparatively understand cost-effectiveness of virtual surgical planning and usual care treatments based on additional costs of virtual surgical planning, and costs attributed to probabilities of postoperative complications. Model structure was informed through qualitative clinical interviews from the University of North Carolina, and supported through University of North Carolina clinical data and literature. Costs and complication probabilities were estimated from the literature. Sensitivity analyses of all uncertain model parameters were performed, and distributional parameters were selected based on best practices. RESULTS: Results of base-case analysis indicated that virtual surgical planning was more costly by a difference of $7099 per person and did not reduce the risk of complications or flap loss. Virtual surgical planning cases had an increased incidence of flap loss by 0.6 percent and an increased incidence of mandibular infection by 6.5 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual surgical planning has upfront expenses that do not necessarily translate into downstream reduction in complications or improved outcomes. Clinical decision-makers would benefit from future research to identify thresholds whereby virtual surgical planning may result in more cost-savings for particular types of patients.

Co-occurrence of frameshift mutations in SMAD6 and TCF12 in a child with complex craniosynostosis.

Non-syndromic craniosynostosis (CS) affects 1 in 2350 live births. Recent studies have shown that a significant fraction of cases are caused by de novo or rare transmitted mutations that promote premature osteoblast differentiation in cranial sutures. Rare heterozygous loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in SMAD6 and TCF12 are highly enriched in patients with non-syndromic sagittal and coronal CS, respectively. Interestingly, both mutations show striking incomplete penetrance, suggesting a role for modifying alleles; in the case of SMAD6, a common variant near BMP2 drastically increases penetrance of sagittal CS. Here, we report a proband presenting with both sagittal and coronal craniosynostosis with the highly unusual recurrence of CS within two months of initial surgery, requiring a second operation to re-establish suture patency at six months of age. Exome sequencing revealed a rare transmitted frameshift mutation in SMAD6 (p. 152 fs*27) inherited from an unaffected parent, absence of the common BMP2 risk variant, and a de novo frameshift mutation in TCF12 (p.E548fs*14). SMAD6 and TCF12 independently inhibit transcriptional targets of BMP signaling. The findings are consistent with epistasis of these mutations, increasing penetrance and severity of CS in this proband. They also add to the list of composite phenotypes resulting from two Mendelian mutations, and support the utility of exome sequencing in atypical CS cases.

Trends in medical malpractice claims in patients with cleft or craniofacial abnormalities in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To describe medical malpractice trends in patients with cleft and/or craniofacial abnormalities. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A modified Delphi approach was used to gather search terms. Search settings included "all jury verdicts and settlements", with jurisdiction of "all states" and "all federal courts" (by court and circuit). A retrospective review of WestLawNext legal database was conducted. Cases were excluded if they did not have a direct association from the patient's craniofacial anomaly or if they were not related to malpractice. RESULTS: Forty-two cases met inclusion criteria. Cases closed between 1981 and 2014 were included. The mean payment among claims with an indemnity payment was $3.9 million. Of cases brought to trial, 62% were in favor of the plaintiff. Amongst physicians named as co-defendants, pediatricians were most commonly named (24%), followed by plastic surgeons (16%), obstetricians (7.8%), and radiologists (7.8%). "Missed diagnosis" was the most common type of negligent claim (45%), followed by "surgical error" (21%), and "medication error" (17%). "Anoxic brain injury" resulted in the highest median indemnity payment for complication of patient management ($3.5 million), followed by "wrongful birth" ($1.03 million), and "minor physical injury" ($520,000). No specific type of negligent claim (p = 0.764) nor complication of patient management (p = 0.61) was associated with a greater indemnity payment. Mean indemnity payment was $920,000 prior to 2001 and $4.4 million after 2001 (p = 0.058). CONCLUSIONS: Mean indemnity payments were fourteen-fold greater in patients as compared to those in the overall population ($3.9 million versus $274,887) and seven-fold greater than those in the average pediatric population ($3.9 million versus $520,923). All healthcare providers should be aware of the associated medical malpractice claims that may be incurred when treating patients at risk for these conditions.

Comparison of different methods to assess alveolar cleft defects in cone beam CT images.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of three different methods for assessing the volume of cleft defects in CBCT images. The influence of field of view (FOV) and voxel sizes was also assessed. METHODS: Using three radio-opaque plastic skulls, unilateral defects were created to mimic alveolar clefts and were filled with wax following the contralateral side contours. They were scanned in a CBCT unit using four different acquisition protocols, varying FOV and voxel sizes. Using three different methods, the defect/wax volume was evaluated on the images by defining: (1) the width, height and facial-palatal length of the defect in maximum intensity projection; (2) the areas of the defect on axial slices; and (3) the threshold and segmentation of the region of interest. The values obtained from each method using different acquisition protocols were compared with the real volume of the wax (gold standard) using ANOVA and Tukey's test. RESULTS: Methods 2 and 3 did not differ from the gold standard (p > 0.05). Conversely, Method 1 presented statistically significant overestimated values (p < 0.01). No differences were found among the different FOV and voxel sizes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CBCT volumes proved reliable for the volumetric assessment of alveolar cleft defects, when using Methods 2 and 3 regardless of FOV and voxel sizes. It may be possible to improve surgical planning and outcomes by knowing the exact volume of grafting material needed prior to the surgical intervention.

All That You Can't Leave Behind: Professionalism as the Focus of Mentoring and Modeling.

Mentoring serves a critical and necessary role not only in the advancement of plastic surgery, but also in maintaining the health of our specialty. In addition to providing a driving force for innovation--which remains the core competency of plastic surgery--mentoring is a powerful, educational tool that helps us teach the critical skills of communication and model the tenets of professionalism. Our identity as innovators, healers, and providers of hope is dependent on conferring what it means to be a professional, from those who are just beginning their journey as surgeons, to those who are still on that odyssey.

Outcomes of Vacuum-Assisted Therapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Wounds.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck wounds can present a reconstructive challenge for the plastic surgeon. Whether from skin cancer, trauma, or burns, there are many different treatment modalities used to dress and manage complex head and neck wounds. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy has been used on wounds of nearly every aspect of the body but not routinely in the head and neck area. This study was conducted to demonstrate our results using the VAC in the treatment of complex head and neck wounds. METHODS: This is an IRB-approved, retrospective review of 69 patients with 73 head and neck wounds that were managed using the VAC between 1999 and 2008. The wound mechanism, location, and size, length of VAC therapy, patient comorbidities, use of radiation, complications, and ultimate outcome were assessed. In this patient population, the VAC was utilized because the standard reconstructive ladder was not a good option or had previously failed. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients with complex head and neck wounds were treated with the wound VAC. The mean age of the patients was 66 years, with a range of 5-96 years. Males outnumbered females in this study nearly 2:1. Eighty-six percent of patients had wounds secondary to cancer, 8% secondary to trauma, 3% secondary to infection, and 3% secondary to burns. The VAC was used as a dressing over skin grafts in 50%, over Integra in 21%, and over open debrided wounds in 29%. Wounds healed without complication in 44% of the skin grafts, 67% of Integra-covered wounds, and 71% of debrided wounds. Minor complications included failure of complete graft take, failure of granulation tissue formation in open debrided wounds, infection, and hematoma formation under skin grafts. Major complications included positive cancer margins requiring reexcision and death secondary to pulmonary embolism, sepsis, and metastatic cancer. Most complications resolved with dressing changes, repeat grafting, or the administration of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the wound VAC provides a reliable, effective, and durable dressing for a multitude of complex head and neck wounds. Additionally, it is a valuable tool when traditional surgical procedures are not a viable option.

The Use of Brainlab Navigation in Le Fort III Osteotomy.

Le Fort III osteotomy is commonly used in the surgical correction of midface hypoplasia, specifically in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis. These osteotomies can be associated with significant complications, which are often the result of incomplete or inaccurate osteotomies. Brainlab, a technology first developed for neurosurgery, has been applied to numerous surgical subspecialties. The aim of this study was to report our initial experience using the Brainlab VectorVision2 and Brainlab Curve (Brainlab, Westchester, IL) as an intraoperative guidance system for osteotomy placement during Le Fort III advancement. Three pediatric patients with syndromic craniosynostosis and midface hypoplasia scheduled to undergo Le Fort III advancement were scanned preoperatively with 0.6-mm computed tomography cuts, which were then uploaded to the Brainlab system. All surgeries commenced with rigid fixation of the Brainlab registration device to the patient's skull. The navigation system was used intraoperatively to accurately determine osteotomy sites and trajectories. External distractors were placed without complication. Mean length of surgery was 331 minutes, and mean estimated blood loss was 500 mL. No transfusion was required with a mean postoperative hemoglobin of 8.3 g/dL. The application of Brainlab technology to Le Fort III advancement proved useful in establishing precise osteotomy lines and trajectories. Looking forward, this technology could be applied to a minimal dissection technique in order to avoid extensive blood loss. Further study would be needed to determine possible benefits such as reduced complications or operative time when using an intraoperative navigation system for image-guided osteotomy placement during Le Fort III advancement.

Juvenile Swine Surgical Alveolar Cleft Model to Test Novel Autologous Stem Cell Therapies.

Reconstruction of craniofacial congenital bone defects has historically relied on autologous bone grafts. Engineered bone using mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord on electrospun nanomicrofiber scaffolds offers an alternative to current treatments. This preclinical study presents the development of a juvenile swine model with a surgically created maxillary cleft defect for future testing of tissue-engineered implants for bone generation. Five-week-old pigs (n=6) underwent surgically created maxillary (alveolar) defects to determine critical-sized defect and the quality of treatment outcomes with rib, iliac crest cancellous bone, and tissue-engineered scaffolds. Pigs were sacrificed at 1 month. Computed tomography scans were obtained at days 0 and 30, at the time of euthanasia. Histological evaluation was performed on newly formed bone within the surgical defect. A 1 cm surgically created defect healed with no treatment, the 2 cm defect did not heal. A subsequently created 1.7 cm defect, physiologically similar to a congenitally occurring alveolar cleft in humans, from the central incisor to the canine, similarly did not heal. Rib graft treatment did not incorporate into adjacent normal bone; cancellous bone and the tissue-engineered graft healed the critical-sized defect. This work establishes a juvenile swine alveolar cleft model with critical-sized defect approaching 1.7 cm. Both cancellous bone and tissue engineered graft generated bridging bone formation in the surgically created alveolar cleft defect.

Craniosynostosis incision: scalpel or cautery?

There is an ongoing debate regarding the optimal instrument for scalp incisions: the scalpel or electrocautery. The argument generally focuses on improved healing after an incision made with a knife and decreased bleeding when using electrocautery. This study compares the use of scalpel and electrocautery in making coronal incisions for patients undergoing surgical correction of craniosynostosis. The outcome metric used is wound healing within 6 months after surgery. All patients presenting to the University of North Carolina Children's Hospital with craniosynostosis between July 1, 2007 and January 1, 2010 requiring a coronal incision for surgical correction were prospectively enrolled. In all of these patients, half of the coronal incision was made with knife; the other half, with needle tip cautery. Side of the incision was specified at the time of surgery in the operative report. Patients were excluded from the study if the instrument for incision was not specified or if only 1 modality was used for the entire incision. Sixty-eight patients underwent cranial vault reconstruction, of which 58 met inclusion criteria. Of the 58 matched pairs, 55 were analyzed statistically. The 3 excluded cases were those who had midline complications. There were 17 wound complications (15%): 8 in the knife group, 6 in the cautery group, and 3 at midline (with indeterminate side for the problem). We found no statistically significant difference in wound healing between incisions made with a knife or with electrocautery.