Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Book

Scalp Laceration

Abdulaziz M. Almulhim  1 , Mohammed Madadin  1
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
Affiliations
Free Books & Documents
Book

Scalp Laceration

Abdulaziz M. Almulhim et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

A laceration is a pattern of injury in which blunt forces tear the skin and underlying tissues. Lacerations in the scalp are different from lacerations in other parts of the face and body due to differences in the anatomy and blood supply. The scalp lies on stretched skin tissue that lies on the bone, making it more prone to laceration. Clinicians must clearly understand these differences and their effect on evaluating and managing these types of injuries.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Abdulaziz Almulhim declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Mohammed Madadin declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Fitzpatrick MO, Seex K. Scalp lacerations demand careful attention before interhospital transfer of head injured patients. J Accid Emerg Med. 1996 May;13(3):207-8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Arne BC. Management of scalp hemorrhage and lacerations. J Spec Oper Med. 2012 Spring;12(1):11-16. - PubMed
    1. Singer AJ, Thode HC, Hollander JE. National trends in ED lacerations between 1992 and 2002. Am J Emerg Med. 2006 Mar;24(2):183-8. - PubMed
    1. Turnage B, Maull KI. Scalp laceration: an obvious 'occult' cause of shock. South Med J. 2000 Mar;93(3):265-6. - PubMed
    1. Lee RH, Gamble WB, Robertson B, Manson PN. The MCFONTZL classification system for soft-tissue injuries to the face. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 Apr;103(4):1150-7. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources