BACKGROUND: Tissue expansion is a physiological phenomenon, we observed in pregnancy and in tumors development. The expansion control was described for the first time in 1957, being improved and developed in almost all body areas ever since. Tissue expansion of the lower limb has shown difficult accomplishments, due to limited skin elasticity, mainly on the distal lower leg, lack of a hard plan, few axial vessels and developed sub dermal plexus, restraint of physical activities in patients during filling procedure, and high rate of complications, which may cause restriction of its usage. METHODS: We have achieved 24 procedures of expansion of the lower limbs for hemangioma (4.2%), sequelae of poliomyelitis (8.3%), post burn sequelae (33.3%) and post trauma (54.2%), expanding advancement flaps, transposition, and preparation of pockets in order to place calf implants, creation of protocols for indication, planning and routines, filling and removal of the expander with the goal of reducing complications. RESULTS: In all tissue expansions obtained we have been successful in the previous result planned in 19 procedures (79.1%), and unsuccessful in 4 procedures (16.7%) with final partial result, and in 1 procedure (4.2%) with prior interruption of tissue expansion having obtained no goals. CONCLUSION: A careful planning and a strict surgical protocol of these problems can be reduced and skin expansion can be used in the lower leg to achieve goals of otherwise impossible in reconstructive surgery.
Tissue expanders; Tissue expansion; Surgery; Burns; Leg injuries; Extremities
