About[]
A dermatome is a surgical instrument used to produce thin slices of skin from a donor area, in order to use them for making skin grafts. One of its main applications is for reconstituting skin areas damaged by grade 3 burns or trauma.
Dermatomes can be operated either manually or electrically. The first drum dermatomes, developed in the 1930s, were manually operated. Afterwards, dermatomes which were operated by air pressure, such as the Brown dermatome, achieved higher speed and precision. Electrical dermatomes are better for cutting out thinner and longer strips of skin with a more homogeneous thickness.
- Free-hand knives
Those are manual dermatomes and the term "knife" or "scalpel" is used to describe them. Their disadvantages are harvesting of grafts with irregular edges and grafts of variable thickness. Their operator has to be experienced in their use for optimal results. [David L. Brown, Gregory H. Borschel, "Michigan Manual of Plastic Surgery"]
Types of dermatomes
There are several types of dermatomes, usually named after their inventor.
Knives
- Blair/Brown knife.
- Braithwaite knife.
- Cobbett knife, a modified version of the Braithwaite knife.
- Goulian/Weck knife.
- Humby knife, similar to the Blair knife with the addition of an adjustable roller which controls the thickness of the graft taken. [Ian A. McGregor, "Fundamental Techniques of Plastic Surgery and Their Surgical Applications"]
- Silver's miniature knife, ideal for the harvesting of small grafts.
- Watson knife, another modified version of the Braithwaite knife.
Drum
- Padgett dermatome, was the first rotary drum manual dermatome to be devised.
- Reese dermatome.
Electric
- Brown dermatome, the first with powered rotation to be developed, used mostly for large skin grafts. It is electrically operated.
- Castroviejo dermatome, also electrically operated, is a precision dermatome with a small head and controllable thickness, which is most used for mucous membrane grafts.
Manufacturers[]
Integra
Models[]
Model B - Integra (electric style)