• Hamid Karimi, Noor-Ahmad Latifi, Mahnoush Momeni, Shahnam Sedigh-Maroufi, Ali-Mohammad Karimi, and Mohammad-Reza Akhoondinasab.
• Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
• Burns. 2019 Jun 1; 45 (4): 990-1004.

BackgroundTissue expanders (TE) are frequently used worldwide. In this study we surveyed outcome of our patients retrospectively during 15 years.Materials And MethodsWe had 1105 patients for whom 3059 TEs have been used. Demographic data, age, sex, indications, type of tissue expander devices, volume of devices, site of scar and site TE insertion, our technique for tissue expander insertion and flap design, complications and outcome were gathered. A complete and through technical points and tips will be discussed.ResultsIn 91% of patients overexpansion was done. (Expansion ratio=2.1-4.5). Re-expansion has been done in about 12% of patients. Complications were perforation of skin of pocket (11%) or exposure, infection (6%), dehiscence of the wound (1.5%), perforation of the port or disconnection of the tubes (2.1%), expansion of the scar itself (1%), saggy flap (3%), dog ear (5%), lack of adhesions of flap to its new site (4%).OutcomeIn 93% of the patients we could totally remove the scar. Around 9.1% of our patients had two sessions of expansion in the same area and 2.9% had three sessions of expansion. 51% of our patients were highly satisfied and 42% were satisfied of the results of expansion.ConclusionOur patients were satisfied with the results. In 12% cases we have done re-expansion. Re-expansion is possible as long as you have enough thickness of dermis in the skin. More than 50% of our patients were optimistic for 2nd or 3rd session of re-expansion.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

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