Applications and complications of tissue expansion in pediatric patients.

We have reviewed our experience with 61 tissue expansions in 49 pediatric patients. Indications for expansion included traumatic alopecia or soft tissue loss, myelomeningocele, congenital hairy nevi, burn scars, and other less common defects. The complication rate, necessitating interruption of expansion, was 25%. This occurred more frequently with scalp and burn reconstruction. Nevertheless, 86% of patients ultimately achieved good to excellent results.