Treatment of post-burn scar deformations using tissue expansion and endoscopy

Background. The essential drawbacks of conventional tissue expansion, a technique widely used in reconstructive surgery, are its significant duration and the high complications rate. The experience of our clinic covers 329 patients treated with this method from 1987 to 2006. The mean time of expansion was previously 72 ± 2 days (± SD) and the rate of local complications was 38.6%. We applied effective new approaches to this method in order to reduce its drawbacks, i.e. the endoscopic implantation of expanders, intensive expansion, and a modified technique of elevation of an expanded flap. Methods. Twenty-seven patients treated in the A.V. Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery between 2001 and 2006 for post-burn scar deformities underwent endoscopic implantations of 46 silicone expanders in various anatomical areas. High-grade tissue expansion was initiated immediately after implantation. The elevation of the reconstructed flap was performed, including defective tissues in the flap, after which the expander was removed and the expanded tissues were transposed. Results. With the help of the techniques developed, it was possible to reduce the mean expansion time from 72 days to 34 (less than half) and to reduce the complications rate from 38.6% to 6.5%. Conclusions. Endoscopic expander implantation, the accelerated technique of tissue expansion, and modified elevation of the expanded flap enabled us to considerably improve results in the treatment of post-burn scar deformities, using the tissue expansion method.