title: Use of preputial skin for coverage of post-burn contractures of fingers in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hand burns are common injuries. Children frequently sustain burn injuries, especially to their hands. Contractures are a common sequel of severe burns around joints. The prepuce, or foreskin, has been used as a skin graft for a number of indications. We conducted this study to evaluate the feasibility of utilising the preputial skin for the management of post-burn contractures of fingers in uncircumcised male children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preputial skin was used for the coverage of released contractures of fingers in 12 patients aged 2-6 years. The aetiology of burns was "Kangri" burn in eight patients and scalding in four patients. Six patients had contracture in two fingers, four patients in one finger, and two patients had contractures in three fingers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients had graft loss, and all the wounds healed within 2 weeks. All patients had complete release of contractures without any recurrence. Hyperpigmentation of the grafts was observed over a period of time, which was well accepted by the parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preputial skin can be used successfully for male children with mild-to-moderate contractures of 2-3 fingers for restoration of the hand function, minimal donor site morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Mohammed I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Zaroo
authors.forename: Bashir A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Adil H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Darzi
authors.forename: Mohsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: Hameedullah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.forename: U F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Baba Peerzada
authors.forename: Haroon R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Zargar