EFFICIENCY OF SUCTION BLISTER EPIDERMAL GRAFTING IN THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF STABLE VITILIGO AT VARIOUS SITES OF THE BODY

A Vitiligo affects approximately 1-2% of the general population. The management of this condition has undergone a sea of change over the last two or three decades. Suction blister epidermal grafting is a simple modality of treatment of patients with resistant and stable vitiligo. The objective of the study vitiligo at various sites of the body. Thirty patients with stable vitiligo at various sites of the body were selected for the study. Suction blister grafting was done after raising the blisters using syringes. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks for the first 2 months and then at monthly intervals for six months. Results were evaluated at the end of six months. At the end of six months the operated areas were analyzed for the extent of repigmentation, color match and complications. Excellent response (>75% repigmentation) was seen in 12 (40%) patients, good response (51-75% repigmentation) in 10 (33%), fair response (25-50% repigmentation) in 4 (13%) and poor response (<25% repigmentation) in 2 (7%) patients. No repigmentation was seen in 2 (7%) patients, one was related to errors in surgical techniques. The color match was excellent in 11 (39%) patients, good in 10 (36%), and poor in 7 (25%) patients. The main complication observed both at the donor and recipient areas was hyperpigmentation. Suction blister grafting is an easy, inexpensive and effective alternative to treat stable vitiligo with good success rates.