Treatment of upper eyelid third-degree burns by dispersed implantation of very small autologous columnar skin grafts: A pilot study of a new method.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study compared the effectiveness of dispersed implantation of very small autologous columnar skin (SCS) grafts and full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) for treating upper eyelid third-degree burns. METHODS: Fourteen patients and 26 eyes with granulation tissue formed by third-degree upper eyelid burns were enrolled in the study from August 2017 to June 2020. The experimental group of 6 patients with 11 eyes was treated with SCS grafts. The control group of 8 patients with 15 eyes was treated with FTSGs. The survival rate of the grafts, healing time, SCS diameter, upper eyelid movement distance (ULMD), visual analogue scale (VAS) score for patient satisfaction, and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) score were evaluated. RESULTS: The difference in the survival rate between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). The ULMD and VAS scores in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The healing time was longer in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The VSS scores of the donor site and the skin grafting site in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Unlike classical skin grafts, SCS implantation surgery can restore the appearance of the upper eyelid, and there is no obvious scar at the donor site. This can be a viable alternative to traditional FTSGs with potential benefits.

Application of skin and soft tissue expander in reconstruction of large scalp defect with skull exposure / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To investigate reconstructive repair methods of a large scalp defect with the granulation tissue wounds and skull exposure caused by the trauma.Methods Skin and soft tissue expansion technique was used to repair eight patients with a large scalp defect with the granulation tissue wounds and skull exposure caused by the trauma.The skin and soft tissue expanders were embedded under normal epicranial aponeurosis after the formation of fresh granulation tissue wound.Strict aseptic technique as well as water injection was done in the expansion process and moderate expansion to maintain rich blood circulation in the expansive parts.Results 12 skin and soft tissue expanders were implanted in 8 patients and the scalp wounds were completely repaired.No infection was detected after surgery and injection expansion process.Conclusions The skin and soft tissue expansion can be used to reconstruct post-traumatic scalp defect with granulation tissue wound and skull exposure.