PREPUCEAL SKIN GRAFTING - A MORE PRACTICAL AND EASILY AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL SKIN GRAFTING

AIM AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the usefulness of prepuceal skin grafting for various raw areas due to Diabetic ulcers, Venous ulcer, Scrotal raw area after Fourniers gangrene debridement, raw areas due to cellulitis debridement.PATIENTS AND METHODS This study was conducted at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, over a period one year i.e., from May 2010 to April 2011. About 20 uncircumcised male patients with raw areas due various cause like Diabetic ulcers, Venous ulcers, raw areas after cellulitis debridement and Scrotal raw area after Fourniers gangrene debridement were included in the study.These patients were evaluated and circumcision and grafting were done in the same sitting. DATA COLLECTED Data were collected regarding the age of the patient , average size of the defect , mean size of the prepuceal skin for grafting , graft survival on 5th and 7thpost operative days, donor site morbidity, complications at the donor and recipient site . RESULTS The average ulcer area treated was between 15-40cm2 . The size of the donor graft harvested varied from 30- 50cm2. The graft take was 100 percent in all 20cases on 7th postoperative day . All the recipient areas healed completely in 2 - 3 weeks . There was no contracture at the grafted site. Except for hyperpigmentation no other complications were observed at the recipient site.CONCLUSION Prepuceal skin is natural human moiety that needs to be preserved and used fruitfully. This prepuceal skin grafting is more practical and effective alternative to conventional skin grafting.