[Application of quantitative tissue expansion in ear reconstruction].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the application of tissue expander in ear reconstruction and to deal with the complications.


METHODS
50 ml kidney-shape tissue expanders were implanted subcutaneously in the mastoid area. The drainage tube was removed 3 days after operation. The suture was removed 10 days later. Since 7 days after operation, 5 ml NS was injected into the expander every time, three times a week. The total injection volume was about 60 ml. After that, the expander was maintained for one month.


RESULTS
From January 1992 to December 2006, 5,248 patients of microtia were treated with 6,252 expander. After the maintaining period, the expanded skin was thin and well-vascularized. The complication rate was 7.79%, including hematoma, malunion and infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The quantitative tissue expansion is easily manipulated with few complications. It can provide hairless, thin skin with reliable blood supply for ear reconstruction.
Pan
Bo
B
Academy of Medical Science, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Beijing 100144, China.
Jiang
Hai-Yue
HY
Zhuang
Hong-Xing
HX
Zhao
Yan-Yong
YY
Yang
Qing-Hua
QH
He
Le-Ren
LR
Han
Juan
J
Wang
Shu-Jie
SJ
Lin
Lin Chinese
LC
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D055815:Young Adult