title: Donor-site preferences in women during autologous skin grafting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous split-thickness skin grafting has been proven to provide the best cosmetic and functional outcome after cutaneous burn injuries and thus is the standard of care. Clinical observations have shown that female burn patients frequently have greater difficulty choosing a donor site than do male burn patients. However, there is a lack of data characterizing donor-site preferences among women with burns.
  
  
  METHODS
  The purpose of this study was to examine donor-site preferences among women using an online survey that included 356 responders between January 4, 2012, and April 4, 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study found that there was a preference for posterior donor sites, with lower back, left buttock, and left posterior thigh being the most preferred sites. The least preferred locations were the right anterior upper arm, any aspect of the forearms, and the chest. Those surveyed and reporting a higher education level or concerns with scarring were least likely to choose anterior locations. Age, concern for color changes, and prior surgery or grafting had no statistically significant effect on donor-site preference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given these strong preferences among female patients, posterior donor sites should be considered and discussed as compared with the current standard of using lateral or anterior thigh donor sites.
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles, Calif. From Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California; and Biostatistics and Outcomes Assessment and Burn Service, Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Vliet
authors.forename: Warren L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Garner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D060053:Transplant Donor Site; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*