Preparation of harvested skin using the Versajet Hydrosurgery System in full-thickness skin grafts

• Published in: Archives of plastic surgery Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 603 - 607
• Main Authors: Choi, Seo Gil, Shin, Hyun Woo, Yoon, Kun Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc 01.11.2019; Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; 대한성형외과학회
• Subjects: Idea and Innovation; skin transplantation; wound healing; wounds and injuries; 성형외과학; Wounds and Injuries; Wound healing; Skin transplantation
• ISSN: 2234-6163; 2234-6171
• DOI: 10.5999/aps.2019.00745

During a full-thickness skin graft procedure, the thickness of the harvested donor skin is adjusted based on the location of the recipient site and the judgment of the surgeon. Conventionally, the thickness of the harvested skin is roughly adjusted using surgical instruments such as scalpels and scissors. However, this method is not only time-consuming, but also requires effort to obtain both the desired thickness of the harvested skin and a smooth surface of that skin. Moreover, there is a possibility of skin perforation. Hence, the authors devised a method of adjusting harvested skin thickness using the Versajet Hydrosurgery System. The Versajet device is a handheld hydrosurgical tool that delivers a high-speed jet stream of saline solution, which enables the precise debridement of tissue. This method makes it easier and faster for the surgeon to obtain the desired thickness of harvested skin. In addition, by obtaining a smooth surface and an even thickness of harvested donor skin, this technique may lead to improved graft viability.