Treatment of traumatic tattoos with various sterile brushes

Abstract

Various types of brushes are efficient for the removal of foreign material accidentally projected into the skin by explosive or abrasive trauma. To evaluate how different times between injury and treatment influenced esthetic results, we retrospectively evaluated 14 patients subjected to the brushing technique. Two groups were identified. Group I had been treated within 24 hours of injury. In group II debridement had been performed later. Cosmetic results were strikingly better in group I. Our results demonstrate that debridement of traumatic tattoos should be carried out as soon as possible to achieve favorable cosmetic results.