Tissue expansion in soft-tissue reconstruction.

Tissue expansion in soft-tissue reconstruction is described. The main principle is to develop donor tissue by expansion adjacent to the defect. Such a donor flap is doubled in size by intermittent injections of normal saline into the expander. After sharing the expanded flap for reconstruction, the donor site is well preserved, while the defect is reconstructed with contiguous tissue of similar texture, color, thickness, and sensation. There is minimal scar formation. Over 130 patients were reconstructed with expanded flaps. The average time of flap development was 3 to 6 weeks.