Analyzing the correlation among the five indications of the regenerative effectiveness of expanded skin: A retrospective study of 277 expansion cases

Abstract

Background: Skin expansion is a useful method for harvesting extra tissue. However, the outcome is hardly predictable. Methods: A total of 158 patients with 277 expanded skin cases were reviewed and evaluated via photographs. The review and evaluation were conducted to determine the skin’s regenerative condition. The overall texture of the expanded skin, which was deemed good, fair, or poor, was evaluated. The occurrence of five indications of the limitation of skin regeneration (thinning, color change, stretch marks, varicose vessels, and skin lesions) during expansion was recorded. The correlation between the five indications and the overall texture was statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 277 retrospectively reviewed expansion cases, the occurrence rate of skin deterioration showed significant differences between the expansion sites (P<0.01). Skin deterioration was most commonly seen on the neck and at the back. The occurrence of each indication varied among locations. The odds ratios of color change, stretch marks, varicose vessels, thinning, and skin lesions between good and poor skin conditions were 44.97, 5.09, 22.26, 89.79, and 4.61, respectively (all P<0.001). Conclusion: Skin color, stretch marks, varicose vessels, thickness, and skin lesions are closely correlated with the skin regenerative capacity. An integrated evaluation can help predict the regenerative capacity of expanded skin.

Keywords

• Skin expansion
• Regenerative capacity
• Indications
• Evaluation system