OFF-THE-SHELF TECHNIQUES FOR CONTINUOUS TISSUE EXPANSION

Since modern tissue expansion was introduced in 1976, it has proved to be a safe and effective technique for obtaining extra tissue where tr aditionally distant flaps and grafts had been used. However, the lengt hy expansion times and prolonged gross deformity of conventional expan sion protocols have often deterred both physician and patient from cho osing this reconstructive option. Over the past decade, attempts to sh orten the total expansion time have centered around decreasing the tim e intervals between injections. Recently, researchers at Washington Un iversity have developed the technique of continuous tissue expansion ( CTE), using a custom-designed, computerized pump. With CTE, expansion times have been shortened from 2 weeks to 3 days. At our institution, we have demonstrated that CTE can be safely and economically performed with the use of equipment already existent in most medical centers. W e describe the equipment and technique and present two cases of succes sful clinical application of CTE.