The Feasibility of Tissue Expanders in Reconstruction of Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevi in Children

Abstract

Children with giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMN) pose a great challenge to pediatric and reconstructive surgeons because they have to cover the widely exposed area after its excision. A variety of treatment options exist for the management of such cases. In this retrospective review of a selected group of children who had a GCMN of their abdominal walls managed with implantation of tissue expanders (TEs) for staged reconstruction, patients were evaluated with respect to complications and general and esthetic criteria for patient and parent satisfaction. The purpose was to study the feasibility of use of TEs in the management of children who had GCMN, with special emphasis on the complications and children's and parents' satisfaction. Retrospective data from the 12 patients' charts, operative data of 86 surgical procedures, and follow up visits were analyzed using the Student's t test, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. In a period of 4 years, from 2004 to 2008, the results of using 37 different sizes of TEs and 86 operative procedures in 12 children (9 boys and 3 girls) aged from 2 to 12 years with different types of abdominal wall GCMN are discussed. The TE is a useful and feasible tool for reconstruction of the abdominal wall in cases of GCMN in children. Parents and children are satisfied in general and also with the body image.