Ikeda I, Igata T, Ihn H, et al.
The Journal of emergency medicine. Date of publication 2018 Apr 1;volume 54(4):514-515.
1. J Emerg Med. 2018 Apr;54(4):514-515. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.12.017. Epub
2018 Jan 3.
First Aid for Skin Tears by Mini Patch Grafting from the Flap Edge.
Ikeda I(1), Igata T(2), Ihn H(2).
Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology, Omuta Tenryo Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
(2)Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences,
Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
BACKGROUND: Traumatic skin tears often occur in patients with dystrophic skin.
Closing them with adhesive skin closures is useful for patients with a healthy
flap, but occasionally fails to cover the entire defect. We describe a simple
technique to perform mini patch grafting on the remaining raw surface without
damaging healthy skin.
DISCUSSION: The skin flap is spread out and fixed with adhesive skin strips to
minimize defects first. Small pieces of skin are obtained by trimming the edges
of the skin flap with curved tip scissors. They are placed on the defect with
free spaces of 3 to 5 mm between each of the grafts. Then the whole wound is
covered with a dressing and gauze pads. Healing of the ulcer could be markedly
promoted with little enlargement of the skin defect.
CONCLUSIONS: Small pieces of skin trimmed out from the edge of skin flap can be
used as a mini patch graft that remarkably enhances healing of remaining open
surface.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.12.017
PMID: 29306579 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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