THE USE OF SKIN EXPANDERS FOR REPAIR OF S KIN DEFECTS FOLLOWING POSTERIOR APPROACHES OF THE SPINE

Tissue expansion spreads widely its field of application through the t reatment of large cutaneous defects. Spinal surgery represents a new f ield for this technique. Iterative and large posterior midline approac h can lead to skin necrosis and deep infection wich imposes a second l ook attempt with ablation of orthopaedic devices. Tissue expansion ass ociated with advancement flaps represents a less agressive choice to t reat such post-surgical complications saving regional skin and muscles rather than with conventional flaps. The authors report four cases in wich such a technique was applied with long term satisfactory results .