Autologous Melanocyte- Keratinocyte Suspension in Patients with Postburn Leukoderma: Dermabrasion versus Erbium YAG Laser for Recipient Site Preparation

Postburn leukoderma often is associated with psychosocial disabilities in patients. Several surgical techniques are suggested for the treatment of leukodermic burn scars. Melanocyte-keratinocyte transplant procedure (MKTP) is an important surgical modality for the treatment of this unpleasant complication. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of melanocyte-keratinocyte transplant procedure in postburn leukoderma using dermabrasion or Erbium YAG laser for recipient site preparation.
11 patients with 44 leukoderma lesions were randomized into two groups of dermabrasion-treated or Erbium-YAG-laser- treated recipient site for melanocyte-keratinocyte transplant procedure. Repigmentation rate and color matching were assessed at least 6 months after the treatment.
Findings: The mean percentage of repigmentation in was 64.20 ± 25.80 and 20.00 ± 9.40 in dermabrasion-treated and Erbium-YAG-laser treated groups, respectively (P Transplantation of autologous melanocyte-keratinocyte suspension could be considered as an effective and potentially safe treatment in leukodermic burn scars. Better results were achieved with dermabrasion for de-epithelialization of the recipient sites compared to Erbium YAG laser. Further studies on larger series of patients are needed to confirm the efficacy of melanocyte-keratinocyte transplant procedure in treating postburn leukoderma.