A Study of Donor Area in Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Follicular unit hair transplantation involves excision of a strip of hair from the occipital area, dissecting into individual follicular units and implanting in the recipient area. The major disadvantage is a production of a linear disfiguring scar in the donor area. This led to the practice of newer techniques like follicular unit extraction (FUE). FUE does not produce a linear scar, but is associated with tedious extraction causing fatigue to the operating surgeon, less perifollicular tissue giving support to the graft[12] and higher transection rates during extraction of the grafts. Hence, the need of the hour is to use follicular unit transplantation (FUT), which gives a better yield in terms of quality and number of grafts, but with aesthetically thin scar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FUT was done by taking a strip from occiput in a trapezoid fashion[3] after assessment of scalp laxity. The wound was closed with 3-0 polyglactin 910 (vicryl rapide) suture material using continuous non-trichophytic, single trichophytic and double trichophytic closure techniques[4] [Figure 1]. In trichophytic closure, a thin shallow strip of 1-2 mm that does not cause damage to the bulge area of the follicles and the sebaceous gland is cut from the edge of the wound and closed. Surgical stapler was applied over the sutured area for reinforcement and was removed after 1 week.[5]

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Figure 1

Trichophytic closures: (a) non-trichophytic, (b) single upper trichophytic, (c) single lower trichophytic (d) double trichophytic

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The donor area was analysed in 30 consecutive patients from March 2012 to February 2013 who underwent FUT in our institute. Any adverse events in the donor area were also noted. Scar in the donor area was analysed using Heine Delta^® 20 dermatoscope for width and appearance 3 months after FUT. Scar width was recorded in 3 points-centre, midpoint of right limb, midpoint of left limb of the scar and average scar width in millimetres was recorded. Patient satisfaction was scored in a visual analogue scale of 1 to 10 at this time. The results were statistically analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 11.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

A total of 30 male patients with age range of 25 to 49 years participated in this study. The strip width in the donor area varied from 10 to 15 mm [Table 1]. After harvesting the strip, the wound was closed using four different techniques viz. Non-trichophytic, single upper trichophytic (SU), single lower trichophytic (SL) and double trichophytic. Maximum closures were done using a single trichophytic closure based on the lower edge of the wound constituting 56.67% [Table 2].

Table 1 Donor strip width in comparison with scar width and patient satisfaction VAS score

Table 2 Type of closure and median VAS score

Comparison of scar width with strip width

Spearman's rank correlation was used to compare the width of the donor scar with the strip width. [Figure 2] The scar width was found to increase in a linear positive fashion (r = 0.744) significantly with width of the strip taken (P < 0.001).

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Figure 2

Graph showing comparison of scar width with strip width

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Comparison of patient satisfaction with strip width

Spearman's rank correlation when used to compare patient satisfaction with strip width [Figure 3] showed their satisfaction to decrease (r = −0.534) significantly with increased width of the strip taken (P = 0.002).

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Figure 3

Graph showing comparison of patient satisfaction with strip width

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Comparison of patient satisfaction with different types of closure

Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the patient satisfaction score in each of the 4 types of closure [Figure 4] done in the study period. The median interquartile range of the patient satisfaction scores were found to increase from non-trichophytic (Score = 5), single upper (6), single lower (6) to double trichophytic closure (8.5). We did a comparison between single trichophytic closure done on the upper edge SU with that done on the lower edge SL showed a slightly higher interquartile range of patient satisfaction scores in the SL group, but was not statistically significant (P = 0.614). The range was 4.3 to 7.3, 5 to 7.5 in SU and SL respectively. Comparison between other groups was not done due the relatively less number of patients in the other two groups.

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Figure 4

Inter quartile range of patient satisfaction scores with different types of closure N-Non-trichophytic, SU-Single Upper, SL-Single Lower, D-Double trichophytic

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DISCUSSION

Despite being an extremely common entity, androgenetic alopecia[6] can cause significant psychosocial impairment of quality-of-life of the affected individuals.[7] Medical treatment of AGA has advanced with better understanding of the biochemistry and physiology of hair growth and hair loss, but currently there are only two pharmacologic treatments approved by the united states. Food and drug administration to treat male pattern baldness namely minoxidil[8] and finasteride. Optimal aesthetic results can be achieved by combining medical therapy with surgical transplantation of follicular unit grafts.[9] The technique of surgical hair transplantation evolved from the unnatural “doll look” with Orentreich's 4.0 mm punch graft method in the 90s to the current FUT.[10] There was a gradual transformation from 10 to 20 hair plugs to the natural 1 to 4 hair follicular units.[11] The switch led to complaints from patients about residual linear scarring at the donor area of the patient's scalp. To overcome this problem of donor scar, FUE[12] was devised by Rassmann and Bernstein in 2002. The transection rates were higher and the quality of grafts was inferior compared with FUT.[13] This necessitated using FUT[14] with techniques to improve the appearance of donor scar.[151617]

Our study clearly showed that the scar width in the donor area increased with the width of strip taken. Patient satisfaction scores also decreased with increase in strip width. Higher satisfaction scores were seen when the strip width was kept less than 1.3 cm. It is imperative to align the patient in this regard before the procedure of FUT. If more yields are require the patient's bald area and strip width more than 1.3 cm is warranted, trichophytic closure gave better cosmesis of donor scar.

Trichophytic closure [Figure 5] is a type of closure where a small ledge of tissue comprising of the epidermis and superficial dermis is cut with a fine scissors before wound closure.[1819] After healing, hair grows out through the scar giving a better cosmetic camouflage of the scar. Median interquartile range patient satisfaction scores was highest for double trichophytic followed by single and non-trichophytic closures. Most common complication[20] after FUT was folliculitis-like lesions accounting for 16 out of the 30 cases. These lesions were few in number and appeared in the first few months post-transplant. Lesions were symptomatic with pain and itching only in 3 cases.

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Figure 5

Trichophytic closure

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CONCLUSION

Smaller strip width is associated with smaller aesthetically pleasing scar and greater patient satisfaction in the donor area. If larger strip widths are warranted, closing under no-tension, using surgical skin staplers for reinforcement and trichophytic closure has greatly improved the appearance of strip harvest scar.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

We recommend further prospective studies to evaluate the scar appearance with head-to head comparison of single and double trichophytic closures. The need to close the edges in a trapezoid fashion instead of the regular elliptical closure to decrease the transection rates should also be compared on a one-on-one basis.