Objective:To investigate the strategy of using tissue flaps for repairing scalp defects with exposed skull wounds.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From January 2019 to December 2023, 18 patients (13 males and 5 females, aged 17-59 years) with different scalp defect combined with skull exposure area (hereafter referred to as scalp defect area) who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University. After debridement, the scalp defect area was 1 cm×1 cm to 25 cm×25 cm. For patients with scalp defect area < 9 cm 2 and good local conditions of the surrounding scalp, local flaps with area of 2 cm×2 cm-5 cm×5 cm were used for wound repair. The wound in the donor site of the flap was pulled together and sutured. If the suture tension was large, the skin graft from the head was taken and transplanted for wound repair. For patients with scalp defect area > 9 cm 2 and ≤1/4 of the total scalp area, expanded flaps with area of 5 cm×3 cm-12 cm×12 cm were used for wound repair. The wound in the donor site of the flap was pulled together and sutured directly. For patients with scalp defect area >1/4 and ≤1/2 of the total scalp area, free transplantation of anterolateral thigh flaps with area of 9 cm×7 cm-29 cm×14 cm were used for wound repair. The wound in the donor site of the flap was sutured in layers, and the skin graft from the ipsilateral thigh was transplanted for repair if the tension was large. For patients with scalp defect area >1/2 of the total scalp area, free greater omental flap (28 cm×23 cm-29 cm×26 cm in area) transplantation and thigh skin graft were used for wound repair. The abdominal incision caused by cutting the greater omental flap was sutured directly. The types of tissue flaps were recorded during operation. After operation, the survival of tissue flaps and skin graft in the recipient sites was observed, and the wound healing of flap donor sites/abdominal incision caused by cutting the greater omental flap was observed. During follow up, the survival of tissue flaps and the scar hyperplasia of flap donor site/abdominal incision caused by cutting the greater omental flap were observed. At the last follow-up, the skull necrosis was evaluated by computed tomography scan. Results:For the scalp defect with exposed skull wounds in this group of cases, 4 cases were repaired with local flaps, of which 2 cases were repaired with V-Y advancement flaps, and 2 cases were repaired with local double-pedicle vault stone flaps. The flaps survived completely after operation. Five cases were repaired with expanded flaps, of which 1 patient was implanted with 2 skin and soft tissue expanders, and 4 patients were implanted with 1 skin and soft tissue expander. The expanded flaps survived completely after operation. Seven cases were repaired with free transplantation of anterolateral thigh flaps. After operation, the flap in 6 cases survived, and the distal end of the flap was necrotic in 1 case, and the wound healed well after debridement and suture. Two cases were repaired with free transplantation of greater omental flaps and thigh skin graft, and the greater omental flap and skin graft in the recipient site survived well after operation. After operation, the wound of flap donor site/abdominal incision caused by cutting the greater omental flap healed well. During follow-up, all tissue flaps survived well without skull exposure; the scar hyperplasia of flap donor site/abdominal incision caused by cutting the greater omental flap was not obvious. At the last follow-up, computed tomography scan showed that all patients had no skull necrosis.Conclusions:According to the size of scalp defect, local flap, expanded flap, free anterolateral thigh flap, and free greater omental flap+skin graft are selected successively from small to large to repair the wounds, and the effect is good, which is worthy of clinical promotion.