Versajet hydrosurgery system in the debridement of skin necrosis after Ca gluconate extravasation: report of 9 infantile cases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of debridement with Versajet hydrosurgery system in patients with skin necrosis after ca gluconate extravasation.

METHODS

We evaluated nine infants (mean age: 26 days; range: 1 day to 3 months) with calcium gluconate extravasation injury. Site of injury was the foot in 3 cases, the hand and wrist in 5 and the scalp in one. In all patients the skin necrosis was debrided with Versajet hydrosurgery system under general anesthesia without damaging the dermis layer.

RESULTS

Following debridement all wounds healed spontaneously by re-epithelization and the mean time of full epithelization was fourteen days. No patient required a second debridement. At a minimum follow-up of 1 year minimal scar formation was noted and there was no hypertrophic scar.

CONCLUSION

Versajet hydrosurgery system appears to be effective in the debridement of skin necrosis due to ca gluconate extravasation in pediatric population.