조직확장술에 의해 확장된 토끼의 피부를 관찰하여, 확장의 정도에 따른 피부의 조직학적인 변화를 단계적으로 추적해 본 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. 표피층의 전반적인 두께 변화는 미약하였으나, 확장초기에는 거의 변화가 없다가 과도한 확장시 얇아지는 경향을 보였다. 2. 진피층의 두께는 확장이 진행됨에 따라 점차 얇아졌으며, 진피층내의 교원섬유조직은 확장의 초기단계에서부터 현저히 증가되어 있었다. 3. 진치층내의 혈관의 분포정도는 확장이 진행됨에 따라 점차 증가하였다. 4. 피부부속기들은 6배정도의 과도한 확장상태에서도 광학현미경상 구조의 변화를 보이지 않았다. 5. 피부근층(panniculus carnosus)은 6배 정도의 과도한 확장상태에서도 구조적 변화나 두께의 변화를 보이지 않았다.
Soft-tissue expansion is a new surgical technique of providing donor tissue in modern reconstructive surgery. This technique provides a quantity of tissue of similar color, texture, and hair-bearing qualities for reconstruction of adjacent defects. It is known that the expanded skin shows several constant histologic changes including the increase in collagen fibers and vascularity within dermis, and thinning of subcutaneous tissue and dermis. In this study, the author observed serial histologic changes of rabbit skin induced by progressive tissue expansion upto excessive expansion of 6 times. The results are as follows : 1. Changes in the thickness of the epidermis was minimal until 3 times of expansion, but slight thinning was observed at excessive expansion state. 2. The thickness of the dermis was progressively decreased, and collagen fibers in the dermis was rapidly increased in early phase of expansion. 3. The vascularity in the dermis was also progressively increased. 4. The skin appendages showed no structural changes even in excessive expansion. 5. The panniculus carnosus showed no atrophic changes and the thickness was maintained in excessive expansion.
