The coriotome--a new hand-held device for trimming of skin grafts.

BACKGROUND

Skin grafts require a meticulous removal of subcutaneous fat from their underside to ensure their survival at the recipient site. Often a dermal layer is trimmed as well to improve the take of a skin graft or to adapt its thickness to the depth of a defect.

OBJECTIVE

The authors present a new hand-held surgical device, the coriotome, that permits trimming a skin graft more evenly and in a considerably shorter period of time than by applying the conventional method using surgical scissors or a scalpel.

RESULTS

A total of 154 skin grafts (98 from preauricular, 45 from supraclavicular, and 11 from inguinal donor sites) were trimmed with the coriotome to a desired thickness. In 2 cases minor lacerations (<3 mm) of skin grafts occurred as a result of an inappropriate use.

CONCLUSION

The coriotome permits a fast and safe trimming of skin grafts.