title: Fat graft transfer in children's facial malformations: a prospective three-dimensional evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous fat grafting for volume augmentation in soft tissues has grown in popularity in the paediatric plastic surgery community, despite a lack of quantifiable evidence of graft survival and predictable outcomes for child patients. The objective of this study is to quantify, through an objective method, the rate of survival of fat grafting in children's reconstructive surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical evaluation of all children was performed under standardised conditions in a prospective fashion with a 1-year follow-up. All patients, under 18 years of age, were photographed with a three-dimensional imaging system. Data were analysed with three-dimensional analysing software to quantify the volume improvements postoperatively and during the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven children were included and followed up for 12 months. The mean age was 7.4 years. The mean amount of fat grafted was 13 cm3. At the end of the follow-up, the mean survival rate of the fat grafted was 40%. Complementary fat grafts were needed in 27% of the cases. No significant complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Until now, the literature has failed to provide objective evidence of fat survival in children. This study, using three-dimensional data, showed a 40% survival of grafted fat. The use of three-dimensional photographs and analysis has great clinical potential for surgical planning and follow-up.
authors.affiliation: APHP, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Université Paris 6, Faculté de médecine Pierre et Marie Curie,75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guibert
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Billotet
authors.forename: Patrick Antoine
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Diner
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cassier
authors.forename: Marie Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kadlub
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012984:Software; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome