Related Experiment Videos
Use of tissue expanders with external ports.
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, México City, México.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|January 29, 2000
Summary
Tissue expanders with external ports offer a viable solution for skin reconstruction in congenital malformations and burns. This technique provides ample donor skin with minimal complications, improving reconstructive outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Aggressive treatment of congenital malformations and burns necessitates significant donor skin for reconstruction.
- Tissue expansion is a crucial technique for acquiring local tissue coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tissue expanders with external ports in reconstructive surgery.
- To assess the outcomes of using tissue expanders for congenital malformations and burn sequelae.
Main Methods:
- 34 tissue expanders with external ports were placed in 28 patients between January 1996 and November 1998.
- Serial injections were administered every 2 days to achieve expansion up to two to three times the recipient defect size.
- Average expansion time was 49 days, with volumes ranging from 60 to 600 cc.
Main Results:
- No major complications were reported.
- Minor complications, including infection and erosion, occurred in 17.6% of patients.
- Achieved significant tissue expansion for reconstructive purposes.
Conclusions:
- Tissue expanders with external ports are effective for acquiring large quantities of local skin for reconstruction.
- The technique offers advantages such as less tissue dissection, painless injections, and shorter operating times.
- This method is a valuable addition to the surgical armamentarium for treating complex reconstructive challenges.