A dancing graft concept (DGC ) - Advances of our new surgical techinique for pediatric deep burns Treatment

While the technique of early total excision and grafting has many advantages in the treatment of deep thermal injuries, it is not without significant complications. Hemorrhage accompanying burn wound excision can be extensive, as can the metabolic stress of large surgical procedures performed in the postburn period. In an effort to minimize these complications, in 2004, we developed a new surgical technique for deeply burned skin area called “the Dancing Graft Concept (DGC)”. Correct estimation of the depth of burn is crucial for effective local surgical therapy, which is guided mainly by the visual criteria. A subtotal, “skin friendly“ excision of necrotic skin is made until a punctate bleeding surface in the deep dermis is reached. DCG technique, as a technique of “fragile equilibrium “in the deep dermis, may be used alone or in conjunction with other techniques: i.e. in vitro cultivated keratinocyte autografts etc. DGC technique has become an important part of every successful therapy in large burn management of third-degree burns in our group of patients. It is of special value in selected burns of the deep partial skin loss variety, especially scalds, which are predominant in children.