Journal of the Korean Burn Society (대한화상학회지)

Korean Burn Society (대한화상학회)
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Fragmented Split-Thickness Skin Graft Using a Razor Blade in Burn Induced Diabetic Foot

화상을 동반한 당뇨발 환자에게 Razor Blade를 이용한 부분층피부조각 이식술의 효용성

  • Park, Cheol-Heum (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Choi, Manki (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Kang, Chan-Su (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Kim, Tae-Gon (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University)
  • 박철흠 (영남대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 최만기 (영남대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 강찬수 (영남대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 김태곤 (영남대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실)
  • Received : 2020.03.04
  • Accepted : 2020.04.23
  • Published : 2020.06.30
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Abstract

Diabetic patients have an increased risk of burn injuries on foot. Because of their diabetic neuropathy, they could contact with hot water or warming device without being aware of it. Split-thickness skin graft (STSG) is successful in treatment of various wound types; however, donor site wounds are sometimes problematic, and complications such as pain and impaired healing often occur. Although, donor site wounds in healthy young individuals can rapidly heal without complications, the wound-healing capacity of elderly patients or those with a comorbidity has been reported to be low. The dermatome is the most commonly used tool because it can harvest a large skin graft in one attempt. However, it is difficult to harvest tissues if the area is not flat. Furthermore, because the harvested skin is usually rectangular, additional skin usually remains after skin grafting. Therefore, use of razor blade and fragmented STSG on a large defect area is advantageous for harvesting a graft with a desired size, shape, and thickness. From January 2018 to July 2018, fragmented STSG was used in 9 patients who suffered from burn induced open wound on foot with diabetic neuropathy. With this approach, healing process was relatively rapid. The mean age of patients was 70 (57~86 years) and all of 9 patients had diabetes mellitus type 2. In all patients, the skin graft on the defect site healed well and did not result in complications such as hematoma or seroma.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was funded by the 2017 Yeungnam University research grants.

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