Efficacy and safety of automated epidermal micrograft in patients with stable segmental and nonsegmental vitiligo

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the use of micrografting technology in humans

AimTo critically assess the evidence on micrografting technology to evaluate its effectiveness when used alone or as an adjunct to regenerative treatment in various medical and dental applications.MethodsSeven electronic databases, including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline Ovid, Embase Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature EBSCOhost, Web of Science Core Collection, System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe, and Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, were searched until 15 July 2024. Risk of bias assessment and qualitative and quantitative (random-effect models) analyses were conducted.ResultsA total of 55 studies were identified. Most studies (n = 24) reported on burns, followed by 10 studies on ulcers/wounds, 7 on androgenetic alopecia, 3 on vitiligo, 3 on cartilage and bone defects, and 1 on coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Dental applications included sinus lift (three studies), socket preservation (two studies), and intrabody defects (two studies). A meta-analysis of four studies on the management of burns confirmed that micrografting led to reduced healing periods compared with other grafting techniques (weighted mean difference: -0.98, 95% confidence interval: -1.84 to -0.12, p = 0.03), with a high level of heterogeneity (83.57%) and risk of bias.ConclusionMicrografting technology may lead to shorter healing time and improved patient morbidity.

A randomized controlled trial on hair follicular-derived microtissue for promoting wound healing and alleviating postoperative complications after hair transplantation

BACKGROUND

Hair transplantation, particularly through follicular unit extraction (FUE), can lead to postoperative complications, such as numbness, itching, and pain in donor areas, primarily because of delayed wound healing. Efficient management of donor-site healing is crucial to mitigate these complications and improve overall patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of hair follicular-derived microtissue (HFMT) in promoting wound healing and alleviating postoperative complications in donor areas after FUE hair transplantation.

METHODS

Perifollicular tissue obtained during the trimming phase of hair transplantation was processed into HFMT and analyzed for its properties using histological and molecular techniques. In a single-blind, split-scalp study involving 98 participants, Group A received HFMT or mupirocin, whereas Group B received HFMT or no treatment. Dermatoscopic images were captured postoperatively, and visual analog scale scores were used to evaluate pain, itching, and numbness.

RESULTS

HFMT-treated donor sites in Group A demonstrated a significantly higher wound closure ratio on postoperative day 3 than mupirocin-treated sites. Pain scores for HFMT-treated sites were consistently lower on postoperative days 3, 5, and 7. Similar trends were observed for itching scores. Group B exhibited outcomes comparable with Group A.

CONCLUSION

The application of HFMT homogenates effectively accelerated wound healing and alleviated donor-site complications after FUE hair transplantation.

A comparative study of suction blister epidermal grafting and automated blister epidermal micrograft in stable vitiligo

The automated blister epidermal micrograft (ABEM) is a newly introduced surgical transplantation for refractory vitiligo. Comparative analysis of other surgical methods is lacking. We conducted a retrospective study to compare the efficacy, safety, and experience of ABEM with conventional suction blister epidermal graft (SBEG). A total of 118 anatomically based vitiligo lesions from 75 patients were included. The primary outcome was the degree of repigmentation; the patient and operator experience were evaluated. SBEG had a significantly greater incidence of repigmentation (p < 0.001), as measured by the Physician Global Assessment, as well as improvements in the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index, particularly on the face/neck area (p < 0.001). ABEM, on the contrary, had reduced donor harvest time, a better patient operative experience, and more significant Dermatology Life Quality Index improvements. In a subgroup of 38 lesions from ten patients who received both SBEG and ABEM concomitantly, there was no difference in the degree of repigmentation in the same recipient area. Overall, the degree of repigmentation for SBEG is higher than ABEM, especially in the mobilized region, and the cost is less expensive. On the contrary, ABEM requires less procedure learning curve and can supply a greater transplanting zone with shorter donor site recovery. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of two blister grafting procedures is essential for optimal surgical outcomes for vitiligo grafting.