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30. Jahrestagung der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verbrennungsbehandlung (DAV 2012)

11.01. - 14.01.2012, Nassfeld, Österreich

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20-year experience of soft tissue expansion

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  • corresponding author J. Cordin - Plastische- und Handchirurgie Universitätsspital Zürich
  • W. Künzi - Plastische- und Handchirurgie Universitätsspital Zürich
  • M. Guggenheim - Plastische- und Handchirurgie Universitätsspital Zürich

Deutschsprachige Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verbrennungsbehandlung. 30. Jahrestagung der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verbrennungsbehandlung (DAV 2012). Nassfeld, Österreich, 11.-14.01.2012. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2012. Doc12dav03

doi: 10.3205/12dav03, urn:nbn:de:0183-12dav034

Published: August 7, 2012

© 2012 Cordin et al.
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Since Newmann (1956) and Radovan (1978) first described the technique of soft tissue expansion it has become a favourable alternative to traditional flaps and grafts providing donor tissue of the same colour, texture, thickness and sensation with a minimum of scar formation and minor donor site morbidity. Therefore soft tissue expansion adds a versatile option to the list of possibilities for reconstruction.

Despite the great benefit conferred by tissue expansion, it has also resulted in some morbidity. Complication-rates of 20–40% are reported in the current literature.

The University Hospital of Zürich has a 20-year experience of soft tissue expansion. We will give an overview of this specific topic. Over the last 20 years we performed 254 skin expansion procedures in 124 patients (68 females, 56 males). Most expanders were implanted in the head and neck region, followed by the trunk, the lower and upper extremity. Complications occurred in 30 patients.

As a recognized and skillful burn center we mainly use this technique for the reconstruction of post-burn scars, but also in patients with extensive postoperative and posttraumatic scars.