title: Cranial Reconstruction in a Pediatric Patient Using a Tissue Expander and Custom-made Hydroxyapatite Implant.
abstract: A tissue expansion technique in conjunction with a custom-made artificial bone implant was effective for a large cranial reconstruction in a pediatric patient. The patient was an eight-year-old boy with cranial bone fracture, acute subdural hematoma in the left lobe, and acute epidural hematoma in the right lobe due to an accident. Wound dehiscence and artificial dura infection were observed as postoperative complications. Because of insufficiency of the skin flap caused by scar contracture, a scalp skin expansion using a tissue expander was necessary before reconstruction with the artificial bone implant. This combined procedure provided safe coverage of the implant and resulted in good wound healing. There are relatively few reports involving the use of tissue expanders for cranioplasty; furthermore, our search of the literature did not reveal any reports involving children. We believe that this procedure is safe and effective for early rehabilitation in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan. akamatu@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.forename: Ushio
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hanai
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Serina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.forename: Muneo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyasaka
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D017886:Durapatite; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite