The clinical experience for treating post-burn depigmentation with tiny epidermal particles graft

The critical problem of post-burn depigmentation is the lacking normal melanocytes. Auto-skin grafting and autologous non-cultured epidermal cell suspension have been used to improve the appearance. However, a large amount of skin graft is required of donor sites in the former method, while the latter method is thought to be complicated and costly. This study is designed to generalise the experience of tiny epidermal particles graft (TEPG) for treating post-burn depigmentation. From 2012 to 2013, 30 consecutive patients with depigmentation caused by burn injuries were divided into I and II group. I group: 15 cases (11 males and 4 females) were treated by the TEPG. II group: 15 patients (10 males and 5 females) were treated by suction blister epidermal skin graft (SBEG). Imagine-Pro Plus software was used to evaluate the size of repigmentation (RP) 12 months post-surgery. SPSS software 13.0 was used to evaluate the data. The optimum rate of RP was defined as more than 75% (RP > 75%) when excellent RP was defined as more than 90% (>90%). All patients were followed up for 12 months. The mean size of RP in two groups demonstrated that there were statistically significant differences in pigmentation between the two groups (P = 0·002), while there was no significant difference in the other factors (gender, site and age). No infection occurred in the recipient site. Pathological result showed that melanocytes existed at the basal layer of resurfacing skin. Optimum RP (RP > 75%) was seen in 12 patients in I group and 9 patients in II group. Excellent RP was achieved in 14 cases in I group and 10 patients in II group. Excellent RP can be obtained by the abovementioned two surgical techniques. In contrast to SBEG, TEPG is less traumatic, and definite effects can be guaranteed. It is a preferred treatment, especially for those patients who suffer from large depigmented lesions.