title: Management of burn deformities using tissue expanders: a retrospective comparative analysis between tissue expansion in limb and non-limb sites.
abstract: The tissue expansion technique is in the armamentaria in reconstructive surgery. It provides donor skin that is an optimal match in terms of skin color, texture, sensation and hair-bearing characteristics. Literature shows its applications in all regions from the head to the feet. Tissue expansion in extremities, however, carries a high rate of complications. Fortunately, not every complication in tissue expansion means failure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A retrospective comparative analysis between tissue expansion in limb and non-limb sites in burn deformities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty expanders in 53 patients were included. These constitute the experience of a single surgeon. Forty expanders (66.6%) were applied to non-limb sites and 20 expanders (33.3%) to limb sites. Indications of tissue expansion were burn alopecia, scarring and contracture. Complications and failures were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-limb expanders had 10% rate of complications and 2.5% of failure. Limb expanders showed 30% complications and 15% failure. Statistical analysis showed that the difference was non-significant at this statistical power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The non-significant difference regarding complication and failure rates between limb and non-limb expanders in this study encourages the use of tissue expanders in extremities. Close follow-up of patients will prevent many expanders that develop complications from becoming failures.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, Ain Shams University, Ard Elgolf, Nasr City, 11371 Cairo, Egypt. elshahat70@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elshahat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000505:Alopecia / Q000601:surgery; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult