SURGICAL-TREATMENT FOR CONGENITAL ABSENCE OF THE VAGINA USING TISSUE EXPANSION

A modification of the Abbe-McIndoe technique for the treatment of cong enital absence of the vagina, using a cylindrical tissue expander wrap ped in a mesh split-thickness skin graft, instead of a rigid silicone mold, is presented. The expander was kept in place for a period of two to six months and the functional result was 100 percent in all the si x patients treated. Our experience led us to change the design of the expander (cylindrical, without ring, 10 X 4 centimeters) and to place the valve in the inner thigh as the best site for the valve. The age r ange of the patients was 18 to 27 years, and the final result was good or very good in five of the six women. Only one patient has occasiona l dyspareunia, which does not prevent sexual intercourse.