title: Superficial dermabrasion and suction blister epidermal grafting for postburn dyspigmentation in Asian skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND The effective treatment of postburn dyspigmentation, which is more common in non-Caucasian populations, is a challenge for all surgeons. OBJECTIVE We tried to evaluate an alternative surgical method of superficial dermabrasion and suction blister epidermal grafting, its efficacy, and its outcome, for the treatment of postburn dyspigmentation disorders in Asians. METHODS We applied superficial dermabrasion as a deepithelialization process on dyspigmented areas of skin and simultaneous suction blister epidermal grafting to providing pure epidermis. Twenty-three cases were included in our study. RESULTS All of the epidermal grafts took completely within 4 or 5 days after surgery without hematoma or delayed wound healing in any case. Skin color and surface irregularity improved remarkably in all cases and blended in well with the surrounding skin. Postoperative complications, such as peripheral hypopigmentation, delayed hyperpigmentation, milia, inclusion cysts, achromic fissures, prolonged erythema, and scar deformity, were not observed in any of the cases during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION Our method of combined modalities had a synergistic effect on the treatment of postburn dyspigmentation. The authors suggest that superficial dermabrasion with simultaneous epidermal grafting should be considered as an alternative method for the treatment of postburn dyspigmentation disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. jsbrum@ewhan.ac.kr
authors.forename: Jin Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Burm
authors.forename: Seung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Yang Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003869:Dermabrasion / Q000379:methods*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000637:transplantation*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013396:Suction