Comparative Study of Flip‐top Transplantation and Punch Grafting in Stable Vitiligo. Issue 9 (30th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, Sudhanshu; Garg, Vijay K.; Sarkar, Rashmi; Relhan, Vineet
• Is Part Of: Dermatologic surgery. Volume 39:Issue 9(2013)
• Page Start: 1376
• Page End: 1384
• Publication Date: 2013-07-30
• Subjects: Skin -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.477
• DOI: 10.1111/dsu.12263
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-0512

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Because of limitations of medical treatment in vitiligo, various surgical techniques have been devised. There is a scarcity of comparative studies of surgical techniques in vitiligo. Objective: To compare the effectiveness and side‐effect profile of flip‐top transplantation (FTT) and punch grafting (PG) in patients with stable vitiligo. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with stable vitiligo were treated using PG and FTT on 26 lesions; 156 grafts were taken (78 PG, 78 flip‐top grafts). They were graded for response in the form of repigmentation as excellent (91–100%), very good (76–90%), good (51–75%), fair (31–50%), poor (<30%). Onset and maximum pigment spread were observed. Results: Sixty‐five percent of our patients showed excellent repigmentation with FTT, versus 50% with PG ( p = .44). Thirty percent of patients with FTT and 40% with PG had side effects. The differences in onset of repigmentation, completion, and pigment spread between the two techniques were statistically significant ( p < .001). Conclusions: Flip‐top transplantation was equally effective as PG for treating vitiligo, although graft uptake rate was higher with FTT, with more pigment spread, and cost less.