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The Effects of Autologous Fat Transfer on Preventing Expanded Skin From Expansion Failure

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Scar
Nevus
Interventions
Procedure: Fat grafting
Registration Number
NCT02809001
Lead Sponsor
Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether autologous fat grafting is safe and/or effective to prevent expanded skin from expansion failure.

Detailed Description

The repair of skin defects is a common problem for reconstructive surgeons.Soft tissue expansion is a widely used technique for the repair of skin defects. Early expansion-related complications such as skin thinning, telangiectasia, and striae may result in expansion failure and ultimately jeopardize final outcome. In the past years, discontinuation of the expansion procedure was the only therapeutic option, when early alarm signs such as semitransparent appearance and telangiectasia of the expanded skin were encountered. We aimed to overcome these complications by therapeutic fat grafting to prevent skin necrosis and enable continuation of the expansion procedure.

Patients undergoing soft tissue expansion treatment for resurfacing skin lesions including scars and nevi that required therapeutic intervention due to early complication signs were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into treatment group using autologous fat grafting and control group with discontinued expansion and expectant management. The treatment group received autologous fat transfer to the expanded skin.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
80
Inclusion Criteria
  • Expanding skin donor site at the face, neck, anterior chest wall, abdominal wall or back;
  • Implanted silicone expander of 50 to 800 ml in size;
  • History of deterioration in the expanded skin texture that did not improve after the inflation procedure was suspended for more than 2 weeks;
  • Persistent high level of expander internal pressure;
  • Need for further skin expansion;
Exclusion Criteria
  • Evidence of infection, ischemia, ulcer or other pathological changes within the targeting area which defined as not suitable for expansion; or history of delayed healing, radiational therapy;
  • Rupture of expanded skin, expander exposure;
  • Significant renal, cardiovascular, hepatic and psychiatric diseases;
  • Significant medical diseases or infection (including but not limited to the carrier of hepatitis B virus or HIV);
  • BMI less than 17 or insufficient subcutaneous fat;
  • History of any hematological disease, including leukopenia , thrombocytopenia, or thrombocytosis;
  • History of allogenic bone marrow transplantation;
  • Pregnant or lactating woman;
  • Long history of smoking;
  • Evidence of malignant diseases or unwillingness to participate

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Experimental: Fat graftingFat graftingAutologous fat graft transplantation subdermally to expanded skin.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To Measure the Change in Skin ThicknessChange from baseline skin thickness at 12 weeks

Record the thickness of the expanded skin(cm) by ultrasound scanning

To Measure the Change in Expansion VolumeChange from baseline volume at 12 weeks

Record the volume(ml) of each expander

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To Measure the Texture of Expanded Flap with VISIA scannerbaseline and 12 weeks post treatment

Evaluate skin texture with VISIA scanner and compare the characteristics

Occurence of Major Adverse EventsUp to approximately 12 weeks after study start

Including expanded flap ischaemia, necrosis, fluidify, infection, and all other adverse events

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital

🇨🇳

Shanghai, China

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