Dermatome (instrument)

A dermatome is a surgical instrument used to produce thin slices of skin from a donor area, in order to use them for making skin grafts. One of its main applications is for reconstituting skin areas damaged by grade 3 burns or trauma.

Dermatomes can be operated either manually or electrically. The first drum dermatomes, developed in the 1930s, were manually operated. Afterwards, dermatomes which were operated by air pressure, such as the Brown dermatome, achieved higher speed and precision. Electrical dermatomes are better for cutting out thinner and longer strips of skin with a more homogeneous thickness.

There are several types of dermatomes, usually named after its inventors. The best known and used are:


 * Brown dermatome, the first with powered rotation to be developed, used mostly for large skin grafts. It is electrically operated;
 * Castroviejo dermatome,  also electrically operated, is a precision dermatome with a small head and controllable thickness, which is most used for mucous membrane grafts;
 * Padgett dermatome, was the first rotary drum manual dermatome to be devised;
 * Reese dermatome.