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

Abstract

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.