Application of the pinwheel flap for closure of a large defect of the scalp.

A 74-year-old man had a resultant large oval scalp defect of 12×6 cm (72 cm) following an excision of a stage IIIA melanoma. We decided to cover the defect with the pinwheel flap, with the aim to provide a good cosmetic result, preservation of hair follicles and minimal donor-site morbidity. This local flap has been traditionally used for much smaller defects.