Use of tissue glue for punch grafting in vitiligo--a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND Minipunch grafting has been successfully used for the treatment of stable vitiligo since several years. Post-operative immobilization at certain sites such as lips, areola & infralabial folds and joints is not easy to achieve. Putting stay sutures on the lips and areolae is difficult. Grafting over the joints may require hospitalization to ensure proper immobilization, and may discourage some patients. AIM To study the efficacy of a tissue glue for immobilization of donor grafts at the above sites during minipunch grafting. METHODS Ten cases with stable vitiligo over the lips, areolae, below the lower lip, and over different joints had tissue glue applied to the edges between the donor grafts and the recipient wells, after the grafting. RESULTS The grafts adhered firmly within a minute and there was no need for a cumbersome dressing. Over the lips, the patients could resume talking and drinking fluids immediately. CONCLUSION The glue was very helpful for immobilizing the grafts at these difficult sites.