Outcome of Minigrafting In Stable Vitiligo: An Insight from Libya

Abstract

Background and aims. Autologus with punch minigrafting has been suggested as an alternative surgical method for treating stable vitiligo in refractory patients to induce regimentation. The current study was conducted to evaluate the long-term results of surgical punch minigrafting in patients with resistant vitiligo vulgaris, segmental and focal vitiligo. Methods: Case series prospective exploratory study design was performed in Tripoli central hospital (TCH) and private clinic among patient with confirmed vitiligo vulgaris, segmental and focal vitiligo, during the period from 2009 -2019. Data were presented as descriptive statistics using SPSS version 22. Chi-square test was used to test the significance of data with the level of 0.05 considered as significant level. Results: A total of 28 patients presented with vitiligo, of them 26 (92.9%) were females and 2 (7.1%) were males, with age ranging from 11-46 years old. The re-pigmentation of vitiligo was (53.6%) vulgaris, (28.6%) segmental, and (17.9%) focal vitiligo, with stable disease that did not have any new lesions at least 12 months with the disease ranging from one year (7.2%) and up to 30 years. The main instruments used with these cases were; skin punch size between 2mm (28.6%), 2.5mm (32.1%), and 4 to 6mm (10.7 %). The donor sites where selected to match the recipient sites either behind ear 39.3%, thighs 43%, while 3.6% were not previously affected by the disease. Conclusion. It has been suggested that mini grafting is a proper treatment option for treating patients with stable vitiligo, by using a small size punch, that is less than 2mm.