ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the influence of chitosan on the skin and soft tissue expansion.Methods Twenty-five patients were selected,who were suitable to be embedded soft tissue expanders in the face,a 100-milliliter expander was implanted in one side of the face,and other side was used as control.A 100-milliliter expander was implanted in each group,and a slender silicon duct was embedded between the expander and subcutaneous tissue in the experimental group.About five to seven days after the operation,the negative drainage tube was removed,and then two-milliliter medical chitosan injected with the silicon duct in the experimental group,but not in the control group.Two groups were injected with normal saline in the second day.The center of expanded skin was pressed and skin elasticity and relaxation were compared between the two groups during the injection interval.The time of injection interval,the quantity of normal saline inside the expanders after two weeks and three weeks and the total time of expansion to 100 milliliters were recorded.After injection was completed in the two groups and maintained for two weeks.In the stage Ⅱ operation,the expanders were taken out,1 cm × 1 cm fibropeplos was removed from the center of the expanded skin flap from the two groups,and pathological section was prepared to measure the thickness of fibropeplos,average gray scale of collagen and the quantity of blood capillaries.The fibroblasts,collagen fiber and capillaries were observed and compared under light microscope.A matched-pairs t analysis was used to analyze the data.Results Compared with the control group,the quantity of normal saline inside the expanders in the experimental group was increased at the same time; the water injection period was shorten and tissue expansion was significantly accelerated.The number of fibroblasts in the fibropeplos decreased with the influence of chitosan.The fibroblasts were restrained to mature period and collegan decreased.The fibropeplos became thinner but the capillaries were not affected.Conclusions Chitoson can inhibit fibroblast proliferation and collagen production,and the effect of accelerating tissue expansion is significant and deserves to be recommended.