Chronic Tissue Expansion

Abstract

Chronic tissue expansion provides an excellent means for obtaining extra tissue for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Dual transposition flaps for the reconstruction of large scalp defects

“…Tissue expansion may be implemented as either an immediate intraoperative expansion 3-5 or as a delayed procedure with gradual expansion over a period of weeks. 6,7 It should be noted, however, that the amount of tissue expansion achieved through intraoperative expansion is limited and may not be sufficient for the closure of larger defects. The use of delayed tissue expanders can result in a significant increase in the amount of tissue available if given enough time for tissue proliferation to occur.…”

Ilizarov Wound Closure Method for Traumatic Soft Tissue Defects

“…5 Areas of increased myofibril size, increased size and number of mitochondria, with abnormally arranged sarcomeres and myofilaments are observed. 12,18 However, functionally, expanded muscle demonstrates no gross loss of strength or excursion. 18 As nerve fibers are stretched, after a reserve of redundancy is used up, nerve fascicles will elongate, reducing neuronal cross-sectional area, leading to compression deformation.…”

Suture Marks: Factors of Causation and Prevention

“…Furthermore, neither suturing article mentions different immediate and chronic expansion techniques, though an extensive literature exists for using such methods as important additional techniques in providing adequate tissue for nontensioned closures (e.g., Collins and Swanson, 7 Auletta and coworkers, 8 and others). True chronic expansion does give additional skin tissue to the closure line, thereby decreasing tension significantly.…”