The effect of tissue expansion on skull bones in the paediatric age group from 2 to 7 years

Tissue expansion has gained wide application in the reconstruction of scalp defects in adults and children. However, the main concern in the use of scalp expansion in the paediatric population has been the risk of skull deformation. This study shows the application of 40 expanders in 32 patients in different skull areas in the paediatric age group from 2 to 7 years. The effect of expansion on the skull was studied by CT imaging (pre-expansion, post-expansion and 3 months after expander extraction). The post-expansion CT showed multiple bony changes as well as changes at suture lines. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.