Preputial skin can be used in all boys with burns requiring grafting.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In patients with extensive burns, all unburned areas can be used as donor sites. In male patients with small burns, preputial skin graft may be a good choice in order to avoid donor site problems. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients treated in our burn center from January 1997 to August 2007 with preputial skin grafting. RESULTS: In three patients, preputial skin was the only graft source. In nine patients, other donor sites were also used for split-thickness graft harvesting. In two patients, preputial skin graft was used for periareolar grafting where hyperpigmented healing was preferred. In the rest of the patients, preputial skin graft was used on various parts of the body. Overall success rate for preputial skin graft was 100%. There was no early donor site morbidity. CONCLUSION: Preputial skin is a full-thickness, highly elastic and easy-to-harvest graft that should be considered in all burned male children in whom grafting is needed.