Reconstruction of Hair-bearing Areas of the Head and Face in Patients With Burns
2008

Reconstruction of Hair-bearing Areas in Burn Patients

Sample size: 10 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Nazerani Shahram MD, Motamedi Mohammad Hosein Kalantar DDS

Primary Institution: Iran University of Medical Sciences

Hypothesis

Can tissue expansion effectively reconstruct hair-bearing areas in patients with burns?

Conclusion

Tissue expansion is an effective method for reconstructing hair-bearing area defects in burn patients, yielding good cosmetic results.

Supporting Evidence

  • Tissue expansion generates excess skin by stretching, which is thinner and better matched to facial skin.
  • The overall complication rate was 10%, consistent with literature.
  • No expander extrusion or exposure was encountered in this study.

Takeaway

Doctors can help burn patients grow hair in their scars by stretching their skin first, which makes it easier to fix the area later.

Methodology

Ten patients with scalp, face, and neck burns were treated with tissue expanders followed by free or pedicle flaps.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and complications such as infection and seroma formation.

Participant Demographics

Patients aged 20 to 35 years, with 9 men and 1 woman.

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