Trauma flap [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Trauma flap ======

[[Burr hole trephination]]s are placed along a path that can be connected to form a “trauma [[flap]]” if a [[craniotomy]] becomes necessary. The “trauma flap” is so-called because it provides wide access to most of the cerebral [[convexity]] permitting complete [[evacuation]] of acute [[blood clot]]s and control of most [[bleeding]].

First outline the trauma flap with a [[skin marker]]:

1. start at the [[zygomatic arch]] < 1 cm anterior to the [[tragus]] (spares the branch of the [[facial nerve]] to
the [[frontalis muscle]] and spares the anterior branch of the [[superficial temporal artery]] (STA)).

2. proceed superiorly and then curve posteriorly at the level of the top of the [[pinna]].

3. 4–6 cm behind the [[pinna]] it is taken superiorly

4. 1–2 cm ipsilateral to the midline ([[sagittal suture]]) curve anteriorly to end behind the hairline.