Suction blister epidermal grafting versus punch skin grafting in recalcitrant and stable vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Among various surgical therapies for replenishment of melanocytes in recalcitrant and stable vitiligo, punch skin grafting (PSG) and suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG) are the simplest ones. Literature is lacking on a comparison of both.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the results of both techniques in small patches of vitiligo.

METHODS: Fifty stable vitiligo (focal, segmental, and generalized) patients were selected for study. One patient was lost to follow-up and excluded. PSG was done in 48 patches of 25 patients and SBEG was done in 38 patches of 24 patients. All patients were kept on psoralen ultraviolet-A (PUVA)/psoralen sunrays (PUVASOL). Results were evaluated after a follow-up of 4-7 months.

RESULTS: Thirty-two (67%) patches of the PSG group and 31 (82%) patches of the SBEG group showed greater than 75% pigmentation. The difference in both groups was not statistically significant. Cobblestone appearance (23%) over the recipient area (RA) and superficial scarring of the donor area (DA) (100%) were seen in PSG. No serious complications were seen in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Both techniques are simple and effective, however, SBEG gives cosmetically better and rapid results.