title: Salvage of exposed implants.
abstract: With increased use of tissue-expanders the incidence of exposed implants is expected to rise. Eight cases with salvage of an exposed implant are presented. At repair great care was taken to prevent tension on the suture lines either by reducing the volume of the implant or by using a skin flap. Seven patients healed without further complications. In one patient the implant had to be removed due to reexposure. We find that salvage of implants should be tried in suitable cases. If this procedure is not successful a traditional surgical procedure with removal of the implant only has to be delayed for a short time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Aarhus Municipal Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harving
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravnsbaek
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012086:Reoperation; D012535:Scalp / Q000601:surgery; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices