GRAFTING FOLLOWING SHORT-PULSE CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER DEEPITHELIALIZATION

BACKGROUND. Dermabrasion followed by skin grafting has been used for t reatment of depigmentation, The short pulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) lase r allows removal of the epidermis but leaves necrosis on the surface o f the dermis. OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to determine i f the thermal necrosis would interfere with the take of skin grafts. M ETHODS. Two vitiliginous areas of skin were de-epithelialized, one by conventional dermabrasion and the other with a pulsed CO2 laser. Each area was biopsied for histologic study and grafted with a split-thickn ess skin graft RESULTS. Histologic studies of the wounds were compared . The residual tissue destruction on the dermis of each area was quite similar. The skin graft take was excellent in both areas. CONCLUSIONS . The short pulsed CO2 laser does not cause sufficient thermal necrosi s on the surface of the papillary dermis to interfere with a satisfact ory skin graft take. (C) 1996 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.