P207 : Skin seeding technique using 0.5-mm micro-punch grafting for vitiligo: An animal and clinical study

Background: Among various surgical interventions for vitiligo, punch grafting is a simple and convenient way to treat refractory vitiligo. Objectives: To examine the efficacy and safety of the 0.5-mm micro-punch graft in treatment of stable vitiligo and to compare in terms of orientation of punch graft transplanted. Methods: A total of 100 lesions of 50 patients with stable vitiligo were included in this comparative study. Paired recipient patches from each patient were treated by motorized 0.5-mm micro-punch graft and donor punch grafts were implanted in a chamber in opposite direction, respectively; one lesion was transplanted in epidermal orientation and the other in dermal orientation. The extent of repigmentation was assessed by 4-point scale (poor, fair, good, and excellent). Results: Treatment success (≥75% repigmentation) was achieved in 72% of epidermal orientation group and 76% of dermal orientation group. Cobblestone appearance was observed in 26% of epidermal orientation group and 24% of dermal orientation group. Conclusion: Motorized 0.5-mm micro-punch grafting is a simple and effective treatment option in refractory, stable vitiligo. Practitioner can plant the graft without considering the orientation and we named this technique “Skin seeding technique”.