title: Investigation of the expansion properties of osmotic expanders with and without silicone shell in animals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Particularly in clinical studies, it has been found that rapid swelling of tissue expanders leads to high-pressure peaks that can cause hypoxia in the tissue and thus also skin damage. For this reason, the present study in animals investigated whether an osmotic expander with silicone shell is capable of expanding in tissue and bringing about useful tissue expansion without complications. It was also examined whether and what quantitative and qualitative differences there are between conventional osmotic expanders and the new expanders with silicone shell.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expansion of osmotic expanders with silicone shell was compared with that of osmotic expanders without silicone shell in four mini pigs. The expander type used was an M1 rectangle with an initial volume of 6 ml. Five expanders were implanted in each pig, meaning that 20 expanders were measured. The volume of the expanders was measured directly after explantation. Indirect volume determination was performed by producing plaster casts for subsequent laser optical measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of the two curve profiles showed a much flatter profile for the expanders with silicone shell. The absolute values for the volumes of the expanders with silicone shell were likewise substantially lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Controlled skin expansion is a technique of providing localized donor tissue for reconstructive surgery. The new expanders could be in a position to lower the rate of complications in tissue expansion.
authors: Bonn, Düsseldorf, and Munich, Germany; and Nijmegen, The Netherlands From the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Friedrich Wilhelm University, University of Düsseldorf, and Radboud University Nijmegen, Medical Center, and the University of Munich.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Anwander
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Schneider
authors: Wolfram
authors: W
authors: Gloger
authors: Rudolf H
authors: RH
authors: Reich
authors: Thorsten
authors: T
authors: Appel
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Martini
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Wenghoefer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Merkx
authors: Stefaan
authors: S
authors: Bergé
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D009995:Osmosis; D012828:Silicones; D013552:Swine; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones
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