Successful repair of an encephalocele wound in a child following a car accident: A case report

Repair of large cranial complex traumas in children is difficult. Notably, children have poorer underlying conditions than adults and are frailer under trauma. In addition, children have more limited treatment options, leading to the need to consider long-term functional and aesthetic outcomes. The present report describes the case of a 2-year-old child weighing 9 kg who experienced a skull fracture with encephalocele after a car accident and had a poor underlying condition. An artificial dura mater combined with bone cement was used to repair the skull, and then a free latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) combined with a split-thickness skin graft (STSG) was used to cover the wound, allowing the child to overcome the life-threatening situation as soon as possible with a satisfactory outcome. LDMF combined with STSG is an ideal option in repairing head wounds in children. Preoperative imaging and postoperative care also serve an important role in the success of the operation. When the situation is critical, multidisciplinary team treatment can guarantee the safety of the child.