Almost Scalped

A young soldier came into us who had most of his scalp torn off. It was night and he was running, he apparently ran into the metal sheets with holes in it slides together for the helipads, etc. For some reason this material was elevated, but not enough to where one could avoid running into it. I can still see him laying on a litter in the ER. His scalp still connected in the back bottom of his head by about six inches or so, hanging from his head. You could see his skull. If I remember it correctly, he laid there as they shaved the hair around his scalp where it was ripped off. They also shaved around the flap of the scalp that was hanging. Once that was completed they kept irrigating the wound with saline solution and began to sew it back together. It was strange to be there and watch this procedure as well as having the GI talking as he scalp was sewn back together. After they were done, they told him they would have to keep coming back to the hospital for a number of days so they could insert a syringe to suction out any blood that he may be bleeding under his scalp.

I spoke with the doctor later. I asked him if he was going to be OK. He said it would and that he was going to have a terrible headache.

I keep trying to read information on the Internet regarding people who may have had this happen. I always think of this young GI and what the end result was and did this all end up OK for him. Most times I am so overwhelmed with memories and not knowing the outcome makes it even worse. I just feel so lost sometimes.