Effective prevention of posttraumatic tattoo using hydrosurgical debridement in the ED

Traumatic tattoos can result from the accidental deposition of foreign particles in the dermis. These pigmented particles can become permanently lodged in the dermis after wound re-epithelialization and lead to irregular black or blue skin discoloration. Different methods exist for tattoo removal. The best strategy is to prevent traumatic tattoo formation by immediately removing the foreign particles before the healing process begins. Here, we present a fine-tuned, hydrosurgical debridement system to selectively debride wounds and preserve as much viable tissue as possible.