Objective To investigate the application of the fibrous envelope of tissue expanders for the tension reduction. Methods Between June 2005 and May 2011, 21 patients with facial scar were treated with skin soft tissue expansion. There were 6 males and 15 females, aged 19-33 years (mean, 24.5 years), including 19 cases of hypertrophic scar and 2 cases of atrophic scar with disease duration of 1-31 years. The scars ranged from 4 cm × 2 cm to 25 cm × 10 cm. The tissue expander was implanted under normal skin adjacent to lesions in the first stage. And the post-expanded skin flap was designed as advance flap or transpositional flap as supplement in the second stage. Fibrous envelope at the base was fixed to the periosteum or fascia nearby first, and then sutures were used between envelopes at the base and on the skin flap or to the dermis of the skin flap to keep the mouth and lower eyelid in proper position. It reduced the tension of incision and maintained the contour of the face and neck. Results After the first stage operation, 2 cases had replaced expanders because of infection and leakage. No complication of infection or hematoma occurred after the second stage operation. The patients were followed up 1-18 months (mean, 10.2 months); of them,12 were followed up more than 1 year. No secondary deformity (deviation of mouth angle, eyebrows pulling, or eyelid ectropion) occurred. The flaps had good appearance and color. The satisfactory results were achieved. Conclusion In skin soft tissue expansion of the face, the fibrous envelopes at the base could reduce the tension of the incision and prevent the deformity of the mouth and lower eyelids.
Objective To explore the feasibility of applying poroushigh density polyethylene (Medpor) as framework for auricle reconstruction of congenital oracquired auricular defects. Methods From February 1999 to February 2004, 61 patients suffering from congenital or acquired auricular defects underwent auricle reconstruction with Medpor framework after expanding postauricular skin. Among them, there were 38 males and 23 females, aging from 5 to 61 years. In 40 cases of congenital microtia, two sides were involved in 1 case and one side in 39 cases. In21 cases of traumatic auricle damage, two sides were involved in 6 cases and one side in 15 cases. The operation was performed by two stages. First stage:the expander was implanted underneath postauricular skin or soft tissuesuch as notrophic scar tissue for the traumatic auricle defect. Second stage:the expander was removed and auricle reconstruction was performed by placing Medpor framework between the expanded skin/scar flap and the underlying fascial flap. Results Sixty-one patients obtained successfully reconstructed auricles. During a followup of 6 months to 5 years and 1 month (mean 2.8 years), the results were excellent and good in 49 cases (80.3%) , fair in 7 cases (11.5%) and poor in 3 cases (4.9%)，2 cases (3.3%) underwent replacement of Medpor framework with autogenous costal cartilage after 6 months of operation. Conclusion Medpor framework would be applied safely, simply and reliably in condition that auricular framework is unfit or reluctant to undergo auricle reconstruction by using autogenous costal cartilage.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) 165 or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), which was slowly-released in fibrin glue patch, on expanded prefabricated flaps in rabbits to facilitate the neoangiogenesis process. METHODS: A total of 53 rabbits were divided randomly into 6 groups. The central auricular vascular bundle of the ear was implanted into the expanded prefabricated flap as the pedicle. Fibrin glue, sandwiched between the expander and the implanted vessels, was adopted for topical delivering and slow-releasing of VEGF(625 ng) or bFGF(2880U). After 14 days, the island flap with the implanted vascular bundles as the pedicle was elevated, sutured back to its original position and then harvested more 3 days later. Neoangiogenesis was measured by digital recording of survival area, laser Doppler flowmetry, PCNA immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, ink and PbO infusions. RESULTS: When compared with the other groups, flap survival improved; neoangiogenesis of flaps increased, together with the blood flow enhanced in the groups applied growth factors. The reduced cellular apoptosis and the increased proliferation were also observed. CONCLUSION: VEGF or bFGF slowly-released by fibrin glue shows the potential to facilitate neoangiogenesis and accelerate maturation of the expanded prefabricated flap.
OBJECTIVE In order to reduce the complication of the transposition of superficial cervical artery skin flap for the repair of neck defect, the method of pre-expanded skin flap was designed, and its clinical result was observed. METHODS From March 1995 to October 1997, 12 cases with cicatricial contracture of the neck were treated by the following methods, preexpanded superficial cervical artery skin flap, and then transposed it for the reconstruction the cervical scar after burns. There were 8 males and 4 females and the age ranged from 6 to 32 years. A maximal size of flap was 35 cm x 14 cm and a minimal size was 16 cm x 7 cm. RESULTS All the flaps were survived except one, which partial necrosis occurred in the tip. Postoperative follow-up for 6 months to 3 years showed that the physiological angle of cervico-mandibular angle was recovered and the appearance of flap was satisfactory without swelling and contracture. CONCLUSION The preexpanded superficial cervical artery skin flap has many advantages, and it is particularly suitable for reconstruction of severe cervical contracture after extensive burns.
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.