Clinical experiences with the external tissue extender.

Forty one patients were operated on for different skin defects using the external tissue extender (ETE). The indications were similar to those in which ordinary tissue expanders were used with a prevalence of scars (n = 20, 46%) and previous skin grafts (n = 12, 28%). The ETE was used all over the body but mainly on the upper (n = 18, 42%) and lower (n = 12, 28%) extremities. The mean treatment time was eight days, and the complication rate was 8% compared with the reported 25% using ordinary tissue expanders. The advantages of the ETE compared to ordinary tissue expanders are that it saves time and money for doctors and patients, it is easy to handle, and it is almost always possible to operate under local anaesthesia.