Microdermal Implants Show No Effect on Surrounding Tissue During Surgery With Electrocautery.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Surgical Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Microdermal implants are popular body jewelry.
• Surgical societies recommend removing metal jewelry during electrosurgery due to burn risks.
• Evidence supporting this removal recommendation is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the in vivo thermal effects of electrocautery on skin with microdermal implants.
• To evaluate potential tissue damage around microdermal implants during and after electrocautery.

Main Methods:

• Stainless steel microdermal anchors were implanted in swine.
• Electrocautery was applied near the implants and on control sites.
• Skin temperature was monitored using thermal imaging; tissue damage was histologically assessed.

Main Results:

• Electrocautery significantly increased skin temperature at the application site.
• Skin temperature increase around microdermal implants was minimal and not statistically different from control sites.
• Histologic examination revealed no thermal injury to tissues surrounding the implants.

Conclusions:

• Metallic microdermal implants do not appear to affect skin temperature during electrosurgery.
• Prophylactic removal of microdermal implants before electrosurgery may be unnecessary.
• Further research can validate these findings for clinical practice.