Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial

Mesh grafting and Meek micrografting are split-thickness skin graft expansion techniques. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Meek and Mesh expansion ratios 1:2 and 1:3 in smaller wounds. An intra-patient randomized controlled trial was conducted at two burn centers (the Netherlands and...

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Main Authors: Danielle Rijpma, Karel Claes, Anouk Pijpe, Henk Hoeksema, Ignace De Decker, Jozef Verbelen, Matthea Stoop, Kimberly De Mey, Febe Hoste, Paul van Zuijlen, Stan Monstrey, Annebeth Meij-de Vries
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:European Burn Journal
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1991/6/2/26
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author Danielle Rijpma
Karel Claes
Anouk Pijpe
Henk Hoeksema
Ignace De Decker
Jozef Verbelen
Matthea Stoop
Kimberly De Mey
Febe Hoste
Paul van Zuijlen
Stan Monstrey
Annebeth Meij-de Vries
author_facet Danielle Rijpma
Karel Claes
Anouk Pijpe
Henk Hoeksema
Ignace De Decker
Jozef Verbelen
Matthea Stoop
Kimberly De Mey
Febe Hoste
Paul van Zuijlen
Stan Monstrey
Annebeth Meij-de Vries
author_sort Danielle Rijpma
collection DOAJ
description Mesh grafting and Meek micrografting are split-thickness skin graft expansion techniques. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Meek and Mesh expansion ratios 1:2 and 1:3 in smaller wounds. An intra-patient randomized controlled trial was conducted at two burn centers (the Netherlands and Belgium). Wound outcomes, e.g., take rate, re-epithelialization rate, and donor site size, were measured. At 3 months post-surgery, patient preference and scar quality were evaluated with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), cutometer and dermaspectrometer. Seventy patients with a TBSA of 10 ± 10% (mean ± SD) were included. The take rate was 79 ± 25% vs. 87 ± 19% (<i>p</i> = 0.003), Meek vs. Mesh, respectively. At follow-up, a majority of observer and patient POSAS items were statistically significantly lower, corresponding with better scar quality for Mesh grafting compared to Meek micrografting. The scar elasticity was 0.37 ± 0.20 vs. 0.42 ± 0.21 (<i>p</i> = 0.013) and mean melanin 13.3 ± 8.3 vs. 12.1 ± 7.7 (<i>p</i> = 0.019) for Meek vs. Mesh, respectively, and the patient preference was 32%, 49%, and 19% for Meek, Mesh, and no preference. Other outcomes showed no statistically significant difference. In patients with smaller wounds, Mesh showed superiority on most wound and short-term scar results. Nevertheless, patient preference within the 1:3 expansion ratio group and donor site size were in favor of Meek.
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spelling doaj-art-4c48dff0db5847aab0e61865892aed022025-08-20T03:27:24ZengMDPI AGEuropean Burn Journal2673-19912025-05-01622610.3390/ebj6020026Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled TrialDanielle Rijpma0Karel Claes1Anouk Pijpe2Henk Hoeksema3Ignace De Decker4Jozef Verbelen5Matthea Stoop6Kimberly De Mey7Febe Hoste8Paul van Zuijlen9Stan Monstrey10Annebeth Meij-de Vries11Alliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Center Beverwijk, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, The NetherlandsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumAlliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Center Beverwijk, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, The NetherlandsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBurn Center, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumAlliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Center Beverwijk, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, The NetherlandsBurn Center, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumAlliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Center Beverwijk, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, The NetherlandsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumAlliance of Dutch Burn Care, Burn Center Beverwijk, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, The NetherlandsMesh grafting and Meek micrografting are split-thickness skin graft expansion techniques. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Meek and Mesh expansion ratios 1:2 and 1:3 in smaller wounds. An intra-patient randomized controlled trial was conducted at two burn centers (the Netherlands and Belgium). Wound outcomes, e.g., take rate, re-epithelialization rate, and donor site size, were measured. At 3 months post-surgery, patient preference and scar quality were evaluated with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), cutometer and dermaspectrometer. Seventy patients with a TBSA of 10 ± 10% (mean ± SD) were included. The take rate was 79 ± 25% vs. 87 ± 19% (<i>p</i> = 0.003), Meek vs. Mesh, respectively. At follow-up, a majority of observer and patient POSAS items were statistically significantly lower, corresponding with better scar quality for Mesh grafting compared to Meek micrografting. The scar elasticity was 0.37 ± 0.20 vs. 0.42 ± 0.21 (<i>p</i> = 0.013) and mean melanin 13.3 ± 8.3 vs. 12.1 ± 7.7 (<i>p</i> = 0.019) for Meek vs. Mesh, respectively, and the patient preference was 32%, 49%, and 19% for Meek, Mesh, and no preference. Other outcomes showed no statistically significant difference. In patients with smaller wounds, Mesh showed superiority on most wound and short-term scar results. Nevertheless, patient preference within the 1:3 expansion ratio group and donor site size were in favor of Meek.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1991/6/2/26burn woundsscarsrandomized controlled trialmesh graftingmeek micrografting
spellingShingle Danielle Rijpma
Karel Claes
Anouk Pijpe
Henk Hoeksema
Ignace De Decker
Jozef Verbelen
Matthea Stoop
Kimberly De Mey
Febe Hoste
Paul van Zuijlen
Stan Monstrey
Annebeth Meij-de Vries
Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial
European Burn Journal
burn wounds
scars
randomized controlled trial
mesh grafting
meek micrografting
title Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Wound and Short-Term Scar Outcomes of Meek Micrografting Versus Mesh Grafting: An Intra-Patient Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort wound and short term scar outcomes of meek micrografting versus mesh grafting an intra patient randomized controlled trial
topic burn wounds
scars
randomized controlled trial
mesh grafting
meek micrografting
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-1991/6/2/26
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