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Outcomes of Tissue Expander Application for Scalp Reconstruction in Extensive Aplasia Cutis Congenita

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Abstract

Introduction

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare congenital disorder. The purpose of this study was to present outcomes of tissue expander application for scalp reconstruction in extensive ACC.

Patient/Methods

In this retrospective study, medical records were reviewed for six patients who underwent serial tissue expander application for scalp reconstruction in ACC between 2000 and 2015. Patient average age was 14.5 (range, 4–25 years). One of the six cases had frontal bone defect, the others had bone and soft tissue defect at the vertex. In the newborn period, all patients have been managed by split-thickness skin grafts without cranioplasty procedures. After grafting and calvarial regeneration, one (or more) sessions of tissue expanders and scalp flap applications were performed for alopecia and soft tissue correction. Radiologic and clinical examination was performed for complications and outcomes.

Results

Computerized tomography showed intact calvarium with patchy hyperostosis in all patients. The mean size of grafted areas was 69.5 cm2 (range, 32–148.5 cm2). Minimal distal flap necrosis (6 × 1 cm) was observed in one patient. Serial scalp tissue expansion was performed with at least one session in a 1-year interval. One expander was extracted due to exposition and infection. No total flap losses and no calvarial defects were observed during follow-up (mean; 8.6 years). Clinical examination revealed acceptable cosmetic results in all patients.

Conclusion

We advocate late expander scalp reconstruction for management of extensive ACC cases.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Cukurova University Medical School, 01330, Saricam, Adana, Turkey

    Eyuphan Gencel, Cengiz Eser, Ibrahim Tabakan, Erol Kesiktas & Metin Yavuz

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  1. Eyuphan Gencel
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  2. Cengiz Eser
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  3. Ibrahim Tabakan
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  4. Erol Kesiktas
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Correspondence to Eyuphan Gencel.

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Gencel, E., Eser, C., Tabakan, I. et al. Outcomes of Tissue Expander Application for Scalp Reconstruction in Extensive Aplasia Cutis Congenita. Aesth Plast Surg 40, 114–119 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-015-0584-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-015-0584-7

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