"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 traditionally distant flaps and grafts had been used. However, the lengthy expansion times and prolonged gross deformity of conventional expansion protocols have often deterred both physician and patient from choosing this reconstructive option. Over the past decade, attempts to shorten the total expansion time have centered around decreasing the time intervals between injections. Recently, researchers at Washington University 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. We describe the equipment and technique and present two cases of successful clinical application of CTE.