Objective To summarize the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications after the skin soft tissue expansion for scar alopecia. Methods From January 1995 to June 2005, 57 patients with scar alopecia were admitted to our department for treatment. Of the patients, 25 were males and 32 were females with their ages ranging from 5 to 55 years. The causes were burn in 33 patients, trauma in 14, alopecia after head surgery in 8, and other causes in 2. Their disease courses ranged from 6 months to 15 years. Fortreatment, 89 therapeutic expanders were utilized in 57 patients. The retrospective analysis on the complications and their prevention and treatment were performed. Results The follow-up for 3-12 months averaged 6 monthsrevealed that 81 areas undergoing the expander insertion healed well and the hair grew well, too. Eight areas undergoing the expander insertions had complications, including expander exposure in 2 patients, infection in 2, hematoma in 1, expander rupture in 1, necrosis of the flap tip in 1, and scar necrosis at the injection port in 1. The results also revealed that there was a significantly increased rate of complications in the patients aged 5-10 years and the patients older than 50 years （Plt;0.05）. The complication rate in the patients who received 2 expanders at one time was significantly higher than that in the patients whoreceived only 1 expander（Plt;0.05）. However, there was no significant difference in the complication rate in the other kinds of patients. All the complicationswere effectively treated with a satisfactory therapeutic result. Conclusion The skin soft tissue expansion for scar alopecia can effectively prevent and treat postoperative complications. If the complications are identified early and treated properly, the therapeutic results will be satisfactory.
Objective To investigate the clinical application of skin soft-tissue expansion in repairing large-cicatricial alopecia. Methods From January 1989 to December 2003, 38 cases of large cicatricial alopecia were repaired by expanding scalp. The scalp was expanded, the cicatrix area was resected and the mode of propulsive or rotary flap was adopted. The size of alopecia ranged from 15 cm×7 cm to 23 cm×15 cm. Results The cicatricial alopecia in all the 38 cases was repaired and the hair growth was excellent during 1.2 year follow-up. Conclusion The soft tissue expansion technique is the initiative choice and an efficient method for repairing large cicatricial alopecia.
Since 1987, One hundred and fifty-four patients suffered from alopecia, neck and facial scar, and nasal defect had been treated with skin soft tissue expansion. The incidence of complication was decreased markedly, compared to previons report which was 11.7%. Two cases of this group were given up this procedure. The lessous learned from these case were as following. Strictly evaluated the case according to the indication, examined the expander carefully, improved the techniques to inbed the expander and infilled the sailine, those of which could obtain satisfactory result.
Abstract In order to investigate the pattern of the changes of blood supply of the vascular superthin skin flap during expansion, in 17 patients, under the subdermal vessel networks layer of the periauriclar area, an expander was placed, and the skin was preliminarily expanded. The changes of blood supply were found regular: When the injected fluid volume was excessive, the skin became pale or cyanotic, the skin showed congestive telangiectasis. If great care was given during the procedure, the expanded skin could pass safely through the stage of poor blood circulation. The expanded superthin skin flap were applied in auriculoplasty in 17 patients. The results included 3 failures, and 14 satisfactory.
Our clinical experiences in reconstruction of the defects from excision of benign tumors with expanded skin flap were reported. Since 1987 we have applied this method 23 cases with satisfactory results. When we decided to use this technique, the expander was placed in a pocket adjacent to a benign tumor planned to be excised. Once the skin flap was expanded fully, the tissue expanders were removed. After excision of the benign tumor, the defect was than be covered with the expanded skin flap. The problems related to treatment were discussed in detail.