Pain and forehead expansion.

ABSTRACT

Tissue expansion of the forehead by intermittent bolus injection in three patients was noted to be extremely painful. This stimulated a prospective study in four patients whose discomfort was found to be related to a sharp rise in intraluminal pressure after bolus inflation. Tolerable infusion volumes were small (mean 6.25 cc) and associated with high pain scores (mean 7/10). Adequate expansion was protracted (mean 45 1/2 days) and was limited by pain. To eliminate the sharp rises in pressure associated with expansion by bolus injection, a syringe pump was used in two further inpatients. Adequate expansion was both quicker (mean 8.5 days) and less painful (mean pain score 2.6/10).