[Repair of large and complicated defect with multiple expanders].
OBJECTIVE
A method is introduced to obtain good aesthetic and functional results in repairing complicated defects on the face and neck, or total skin defects of the upper limb.


METHODS
Two to four expanders are implanted in different areas where the color and texture of skin are similar to that of the defects, expanded simultaneously. During the second operation, several flaps corresponding to the defect areas are created and employed in one procedure.


RESULTS
Six patients of 4-41 years old were treated with this technique. All of them have been followed up for 12-18 months with satisfactory results.


CONCLUSIONS
Carefully planned, this maneuver shows better effects than the conventional method in repairing the skin defects of face, neck and upper limb.
Zhang
Z
Z
Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
Sun
G
G
Hu
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*