Vitiligo: repigmentation with dermabrasion and thin split-thickness skin graft. 1995

K Agrawal, and A Agrawal
Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India.

BACKGROUND Vitiligo is a common benign condition of great concern. Though a large number of medical and surgical treatment methods are available, none of them is fully dependable in all the areas. OBJECTIVE Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) has been used for the treatment of vitiligo for over three decades, but it did not gain popularity. This presentation evaluates the degree of repigmentation achieved with this technique, its complications, and drawbacks. METHODS A case series of 21 patients with 32 localized, stable, and refractory vitiligo patches treated institutionally by dermabrasion and thin STSG has been presented. The patients have been followed up for 1-6 years. Three patients lost to follow-up before 1 year have not been included. RESULTS The graft take was 100% in 27 patches and 90-95% in the remaining five. One hundred percent repigmentation was achieved in 22 patches and 90-95% in 10. Time taken for satisfactory color match was 4-9 months (average, 6.3 months). The complications encountered were all minor and did not affect the results. CONCLUSIONS This is a simple, outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia resulting in an excellent color match on a long-term follow-up. This technique can be used over any part of the body, including the hair-bearing areas, without compromising the end results.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003869 Dermabrasion The mechanical planing of the SKIN with sand paper, emery paper, or wire brushes, to promote reepithelialization and smoothing of skin disfigured by ACNE scars or dermal NEVI. Dermabrasions
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012880 Skin Pigmentation Coloration of the skin. Skin Color,Skin Tone,Color, Skin,Colors, Skin,Pigmentation, Skin,Pigmentations, Skin,Skin Colors,Skin Pigmentations,Skin Tones,Tone, Skin,Tones, Skin
D014820 Vitiligo A disorder consisting of areas of macular depigmentation, commonly on extensor aspects of extremities, on the face or neck, and in skin folds. Age of onset is often in young adulthood and the condition tends to progress gradually with lesions enlarging and extending until a quiescent state is reached.
D016038 Skin Transplantation The grafting of skin in humans or animals from one site to another to replace a lost portion of the body surface skin. Dermatoplasty,Grafting, Skin,Transplantation, Skin,Dermatoplasties,Graftings, Skin,Skin Grafting,Skin Graftings,Skin Transplantations,Transplantations, Skin

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