Variability in split-thickness skin graft depth when using an air-powered dermatome: A paediatric cohort study.
Burns
; 43(7): 1552-1560, 2017 Nov.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28801147
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) taken using calibrated powered dermatomes are assumed to yield a graft of uniform thickness, though this assumption has never been analysed statistically. This study aims to test that assumption in a paediatric population.METHOD:
STSGs from a consecutive cohort of paediatric patients were analysed for mean thickness, measured from a central biopsy. All STSGs were taken from the thigh at a dialled thickness of 0.007in. Data were analysed using non-parametric methods.RESULTS:
There were 140 STSGs taken from 91 children. The median thickness was 6.94 thousandths of an inch, with a spread of thicknesses about this median (IQR 5.05-9.28). There were no significant differences when results were analysed by surgeon, patient age or gender, swipe number within the case, or the number of previous passes with the same blade.CONCLUSION:
STSG thickness is inconsistent, with a broad spread about a median value. This study provides no data to suggest there are pre-operative predictors of STSG thickness being significantly more or less than that dialled on a powered dermatome.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Burns
/
Skin Transplantation
/
Tissue and Organ Harvesting
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Newborn
Language:
En
Journal:
Burns
Journal subject:
TRAUMATOLOGIA
Year:
2017
Type:
Article