Soft tissue expanders in upper limb surgery.

Five cases in which soft tissue expanders have been used as an aid to reconstruction in the upper limb are reported. The cases involved the reconstruction of the shoulder mound after forequarter amputation, excision of a large tattoo of the forearm, excision of a malignant melanoma of the elbow, excision of a giant hairy nevus of the forearm, and the creation of large advancement flaps to release an axillary burn scar contracture. No complications were noted with the use of these expanders. Patient tolerance was excellent, and the final result was significantly enhanced by the use of this technique.