title: A Case of Complex Facial Clefts Treated with Staged-tissue Expansion.
abstract: Craniofacial clefts involve all soft tissue and skeletal elements throughout the cleft. Usefulness of tissue expansion in craniofacial clefts is reported. Surgery for a complex type of facial clefts is more difficult and more extensive than for a simple one. We experienced a primary case of complex facial clefts (Tessier No. 2 and 12 on the right and 3, 11, and 5 on the left). Soft-tissue closure of all clefts could be completed by using 4 tissue expanders and 7 operations. Because multiple tissue deficiencies and abnormalities exist in craniofacial clefts, especially complex type, a planned, staged, sequential approach by tissue expansion is necessary to produce ideal results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigemura
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seno