Application of finite element modeling to optimize flap design with tissue expansion

Background: Tissue expansion is a widely used technique to create skin flaps for the correction of sizable defects in reconstructive plastic surgery. Major complications following the inset of expanded flaps include breakdown and uncontrolled scarring secondary to excessive tissue tension. Although it is recognized that mechanical forces may significantly impact the success of defect repair with tissue expansion, a mechanical analysis of tissue stresses has not previously been attempted. Such analyses have the potential to optimize flap design preoperatively. Methods: The authors establish computer-aided design as a tool with which to explore stress profiles for two commonly used flap designs, the direct advancement flap and the double back-cut flap. The authors advanced both flaps parallel and perpendicular to the relaxed skin tension lines to quantify the impact of tissue anisotropy on stress distribution profiles. Results: Stress profiles were highly sensitive to flap design and orientation of relaxed skin tension lines, with stress minimized when flaps were advanced perpendicular to relaxed skin tension lines. Maximum stresses in advancement flaps occurred at the distal end of the flap, followed by the base. The double back-cut design increased stress at the lateral edges of the flap. Conclusions: The authors conclude that finite element modeling may be used to effectively predict areas of increased flap tension. Performed preoperatively, such modeling can allow for the optimization of flap design and a potential reduction in complications such as flap dehiscence and hypertrophic scarring.