Pain and forehead expansion.
Tissue expansion of the forehead by intermittent bolus injection in three patients was noted to be extremely painful. This stimulated a prospective study in four patients whose discomfort was found to be related to a sharp rise in intraluminal pressure after bolus inflation. Tolerable infusion volumes were small (mean 6.25 cc) and associated with high pain scores (mean 7/10). Adequate expansion was protracted (mean 45 1/2 days) and was limited by pain. To eliminate the sharp rises in pressure associated with expansion by bolus injection, a syringe pump was used in two further inpatients. Adequate expansion was both quicker (mean 8.5 days) and less painful (mean pain score 2.6/10).
Cole
R P
RP
Department of Plastic Surgery, St Thomas' Hospital, London.
Gault
D T
DT
Mayou
B J
BJ
Davis
P K
PK
D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007267:Injections; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices