Objective: To summarize the prevention and treatment of postoperative complications after the skin soft tissue expansion for scar alopecia.
Methods: From January 1995 to June 2005, 57 patients with scar alopecia were admitted to our department for treatment. Of the patients, 25 were males and 32 were females with their ages ranging from 5 to 55 years. The causes were burn in 33 patients, trauma in 14, alopecia after head surgery in 8, and other causes in 2. Their disease courses ranged from 6 months to 15 years. For treatment, 89 therapeutic expanders were utilized in 57 patients. The retrospective analysis on the complications and their prevention and treatment were performed.
Results: The follow-up for 3-12 months averaged 6 months revealed that 81 areas undergoing the expander insertion healed well and the hair grew well, too. Eight areas undergoing the expander insertions had complications, including expander exposure in 2 patients, infection in 2, hematoma in 1, expander rupture in 1, necrosis of the flap tip in I, and scar necrosis at the injection port in 1. The results also revealed that there was a significantly increased rate of complications in the patients aged 5-10 years and the patients older than 50 years (P<0. 05). The complication rate in the patients who received 2 expanders at one time was significantly higher than that in the patients who received only 1 expander (P<0. 05). However, there was no significant difference in the complication rate in the other kinds of patients. All the complications were effectively treated with a satisfactory therapeutic result.
Conclusion: The skin soft tissue expansion for scar alopecia can effectively prevent and treat postoperative complications. If the complications are identified early and treated properly, the therapeutic results will be satisfactory.