OFAC is First to use Minced Skin Autograft in Ohio

Skin grafts are a critical part of care for patients suffering from acute wounds, chronic wounds or burns. Currently, a split thickness skin graft is the gold standard for coverage when treating these conditions. However, donor site morbidity or a lack of donor skin due to the size of the wounds needing covered create situations where split thickness skin grafts (or allografts and xenografts) may not be feasible.

At the Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center, I had the opportunity to be the first in Ohio to use a “Minced” skin autograft for the coverage of chronic wounds. This exciting technique has several advantages over a split thickness skin graft in certain situations. Split thickness skin grafts are usually expanded no more than six times with a maximum of nine times. With a minced skin technique, we’re able to expand the skin autograft up to 100 times, enabling us to effectively to cover much larger wound areas with less donor skin.

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOGRAPHS GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE INTO THE MINCED SKIN AUTOGRAFT TECHNIQUE.

A single-use disposable kit with dermatome and mincer.

The wound bed is prepared in the typical fashion to receive the graft.

The graft is taken with the non-powered dermatome.

The donor site after the graft is taken.

The autograft skin placed on the back table.

The autograft skin is then minced into pieces 0.8mm X 0.8mm.

The minced skin ready to be grafted.

The graft is then inserted into the wound and covered with a non-adherent dressing.

Using this new technique, we’re now able to cover acute and chronic wounds as well as burns while using minimal donor tissue.  We’ll be following this patient and carefully watching his progress. I encourage you to check back often to see the benefits of this technique in treating chronic wounds.

I’ve always wanted to be on the forefront of medical technology and perform the latest procedures – that’s what inspired me to be a surgeon. At OFAC, that’s exactly what I’m able to do every day. I’m glad I can help more patients with the minced skin autograft technique, and I look forward to even more advancements.

Will DeCarbo, DPM, AACFAS – Fellowship Trained Foot & Ankle Surgeon