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Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

(036) Analysis of Tissue Expanders of the Head and Neck

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Colten P. Wolf, MD

    Resident Physician
    Loyola University Medical Center
    Maywood, Illinois, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • AP

    Amy Pittman, MD

    Associate Professor
    Loyola University Medical Center
    Maywood, Illinois, USA

Disclosure(s):
Colten P. Wolf, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Large defects of the head and neck can be reconstructed through multiple mechanisms such as skin grafts, local flaps, and free tissue transfer. Tissue expanders offer an adjunct method of reconstruction by improving the versatility of local flaps and grafts. Tissue expansion has many cosmetic advantages such as the matching of color and texture from surrounding tissue and the large size after expansion gives numerous reconstructive options.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was preformed on patients who received tissue expanders that were treated at a single medical center between 2014-2022. Medical records of patients know to be treated with tissue expanders were reviewed for patient demographic variables such as age, sex, ethnicity, medical comorbidities, indication for reconstruction, defect type and size, tissue expansion and number of fills, reconstruction followed by tissue expansion, and complications. Statistical analysis was conducted with the help of the Biostatistics department.

Results: 11 patients were included in this study that had a tissue expander placed between 2014-2022. The age range for this patient population was 7 -78 and the indication for reconstruction for these patients included head and neck cancer, trauma, and keloid scar formation. The defects varied in size and location included scalp and neck defects. The reconstruction method for all of these patients included a tissue expander placed with subsequent reconstruction with a local flap. All 11 of the patients had complete closure of the wound with one patient returning to the operating room after a dehiscence at the surgical site. One tissue expander was taken out early due to extrusion through the skin, and one was replaced due to early extrusion after placement.

Conclusions: Tissue expanders offer many advantages over other reconstruction methods including near perfect cosmetic match of tissue and minimal donor site morbidity. The use of tissue expansion in head and neck reconstruction is a safe options for patients to achieve good outcomes for large defects of the head and neck.