Tissue regeneration during tissue expansion and choosing an expander

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Tissue expansion is a reconstructive technique utilizing controlled stretching to increase soft tissue availability.
• Understanding the biological and mechanical responses of tissues to expansion is crucial for optimizing outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the biological and mechanical aspects of tissue regeneration during tissue expansion.
• To address challenges in determining appropriate expander dimensions and introduce a user-friendly calculation tool.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on tissue regeneration mechanisms during expansion (creep, stretch).
• Description of cellular and molecular changes (epidermal thickening, dermal thinning, angiogenesis, nerve/vessel lengthening).
• Introduction of a Microsoft Excel-based program for calculating tissue expander volume and dimensions based on defect size.

Main Results:

• Tissue expansion induces significant biological changes, including improved vascularity and tissue lengthening.
• Most induced biological changes are reversible upon expander removal.
• The developed Excel program simplifies the calculation of expander dimensions, aiding clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Tissue expansion is a well-understood process with predictable biological and mechanical effects.
• While mathematical tools are available, clinical judgment remains paramount in selecting expander size and shape.
• A user-friendly computational tool can assist in the planning phase of tissue expansion procedures.