tissue expansion: comparative analysis of complications and risk factors

Objective: This study is planned to evaluate the relationship between the complications that have occurred in our clinic after tissue expander application and patient age, sex, etiology, expander placement site, tissue expander volume, final expander volume, perioperative inflation volume, and tissue expander inflation duration. Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight tissue expanders of different sizes were placed in patients. Patients’ age, sex, etiology, tissue expander site, tissue expander volume, preoperative final expander volume, tissue expander inflation duration, and complications were retrospectively documented. The Number Cruncher Statistical System 2007 and Power Analysis and Sample Size 2008 statistical software (Utah, USA) programs were used for statistical analysis. Results: No relationships between complication rates and patient age, sex, tissue expander volume, perioperative inflation volume, preoperative final expander volume, overexpansion, and inflation duration were observed. Complication rates in the lower extremity and burn scar group were markedly higher than the trunk, head-neck, and trauma scar groups. Conclusion: Adhering to the basic principles of tissue expansion is important for minimizing complication rates in lower extremity and burn scar reconstruction where complication rates are higher.