Endoscopic Tissue Expander Implantation in Postburn Reconstruction: A Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Tissue expansion generates new tissue that can be used in postburn reconstruction. Expanders are placed through small incisions, requiring difficult and sometimes blind dissection to prepare an adequate pocket. Recently, the use of endoscopy to assist in expander placement has been described, which may improve intraoperative visualization and allow for a smaller incision. In this review, we summarize the existing literature on endoscopic tissue expander (TE) placement in postburn reconstruction and highlight areas for future research. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were utilized to conduct this review. The following databases were queried for the initial search of relevant articles: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The data were assessed qualitatively due to the heterogeneity in reporting between the studies. RESULTS: Our literature query yielded 1023 studies. Sixteen manuscripts underwent full-text review, and 7 met inclusion criteria. All studies demonstrated that the endoscopic approach led to successful tissue expansion. Four articles performed a comparative analysis between the open and endoscopic approach, all of which found a significant reduction in complications like seroma, hematoma formation, and device exposure with endoscopic TE implantation. Two studies demonstrated that the use of endoscopy significantly reduced operative time and length of stay. CONCLUSION: Endoscopy is a safe and effective tool in tissue expansion for postburn reconstruction. Further prospective research should include evaluating the cost-benefit of this approach and long-term outcomes for patients who have undergone endoscopic-assisted TE placement.

The Art of Local Tissue Rearrangements in Burn Reconstruction: Z-Plasty and More.

In recent decades, advances in surgical anatomy, burn pathophysiology, surgical techniques, and laser therapy have led to a paradigm shift in how we approach burn scars and contractures. Scar excision and replacement with uninjured tissue, which predominated burn scar treatment for much of the 20th century, is no longer appropriate in many patients. A scar's intrinsic ability to remodel can be induced by reducing tension on the scar using various techniques for local tissue rearrangement. Often in combination with laser therapy, local flaps can optimally camouflage a burn scar with adjacent normal tissue and restore a patient more closely to their preinjury condition.

The Role of Microsurgery in Burn Surgery.

Acute burn reconstruction involves intricate strategies such as skin grafting and innovative technologies, addressing challenges in coverage and minimizing donor site morbidity. Despite being rarely used, flap reconstruction becomes necessary when critical structures are exposed, offering robust coverage and reducing complications. However, free flaps in acute burns face challenges, including a higher failure rate attributed to hyperinflammatory states and hypercoagulability. Surgical optimization strategies involve careful timing, patient preparation, and meticulous postoperative care. In delayed burn reconstruction, free flaps proved effective in functional and aesthetic restoration, with low flap loss rates and minimal contracture recurrence. Prefabricated and prelaminated flaps emerged as a solution for complex cases, ensuring the best functional and aesthetic possible outcomes in challenging facial burn reconstructions.

Outpatient Follow Up and Reconstructive Surgery Rates in Massive Burn Survivors: Investigating the Social Determinants.

Burn care continues to improve and larger total body surface area (TBSA) burn survival is increasing. These survivors require more extensive care than smaller burns and are at higher risk for wound/scar related complications. Prior work has shown low rates of follow up for burn survivors linked to socioeconomic factors such as housing insecurity and substance use. There are limited studies that evaluate socioeconomic factors that contribute to follow up and reconstructive surgery rates in massively burned patients. Patients that survived to discharge with >50% TBSA burns and planned return to treating institution were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the data collected. Sixty-Five patients were included with an average TBSA of 63.1%. Fifty-three patients (81.5%) attended at least one follow up appointment with median of four follow-up appointments. Younger patients (33±9 vs 44±11; p=0.0006), patients with larger TBSA burns (65±13 vs 55±5%; p=0.02), those with private insurance and those without housing insecurity (1.8% vs 45.4%; p=0.003) were more likely to follow up. On multivariate regression analysis, patients with housing insecurity were independently associated with lack of follow up (OR: 0.009 CI: 0.00001-0.57). Thirty-five patients had at least one reconstructive surgery and 31 patients had reconstructive surgery after discharge. No patients with housing insecurity underwent reconstructive surgery. Follow up rates in massive burns were higher than reported for smaller TBSA burns and more than half received reconstructive surgery. Housing insecure patients should be targeted for improved follow up and access to reconstructive surgery.

Pediatric Facial Burn Reconstruction.

Contrary to prior pediatric burn treatment philosophies, we now know that early burn excision and grafting for non life-threatening burns can compromise future reconstruction. Extensive scar excision should be minimized and scar rehabilitation maximized, as secondary iatrogenic deformities can become even more difficult to fix. Scar remodeling with local tissue rearrangement can relieve tension and soften scars over time. The majority of facial burns often only involve skin and can be adequately treated without the need for complex flap reconstruction. Facial burn scars are a different problem than facial burn scar contracture. The former needs scar rehabilitation, whereas the latter needs the addition of skin. Laser therapy has transformed the treatment of burn scars and is an incredibly valuable adjunct to local tissue rearrangement and grafting. The most favorable functional, aesthetic, and psychological outcomes require a long-term multidisciplinary effort and customized protocol utilizing the vast armamentarium of reconstructive tools described below.

Evolution of Burn Care: Past, Present, and Future.

Burn care evolved slowly from primitive treatments depicted in cave drawings 3500 years ago to a vibrant medical specialty which has made remarkable progress over the past 200 years. This evolution involved all areas of burn care including superficial dressings, wound assessment, fluid resuscitation, infection control, pathophysiology, nutritional support, burn surgery, and inhalation injury. Major advances that contributed to current standards of care and improved outcomes are highlighted in this article. New innovations are making possible a future where severe burn injuries will require less morbid interventions for acute care and outcomes will restore patients more closely to their pre-injury condition.

A Comparative Analysis of the Outcomes of Various Graft Types in Burn Reconstruction Over the Past 24 Years: A Systematic Review.

Burn injuries, a major global health concern, result in an estimated 180,000 fatalities annually. Despite tremendous progress in treatment methods over the years, the morbidity and mortality associated with burns remain significant. Autologous skin grafting, particularly split-thickness skin grafting (STSG), has been a cornerstone in burn reconstruction, and it has facilitated survival and functional recovery for total body surface area (TBSA) significantly. However, the requirement for primary closure at the donor site due to the constraints of full-thickness donor harvesting continues to pose challenges. The introduction of dermal regenerative templates (DRT) in the late 1970s marked a substantial step forward in tissue engineering, addressing the inadequacy of dermal replacement with STSGs. This systematic review aimed to compare the outcomes of different graft types - bioengineered, autografts, allografts, and xenografts - in burn reconstruction over the last 24 years. The review focused on the pros and cons of each graft type, offering clinical insights grounded in experience and evidence. The approach involved a systematic review of studies published in English from January 2000 to January 2024, covering randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series. The participants comprised individuals of all ages who underwent burn reconstruction with skin grafts, specifically split-thickness grafts, full-thickness grafts, composite grafts, and epidermal grafts (autografts, allografts, and xenografts) and bioengineered grafts. The primary outcomes were functional and cosmetic results, patient satisfaction, graft survival, and complications. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials version 2 (RoB 2), the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for non-randomized studies, and the Canada Institute for Health Economics (IHE) quality appraisal tool for case series. Our initial search yielded a total of 1,995 articles, out of which 10 studies were selected for final analysis. Among the four clinical trials assessed, 75% showed a high risk of bias. The studies reviewed involved various graft types, with six studies (60%) concentrating on allografts, three (30%) on autografts, and one (10%) on bioengineered skin grafts. The outcomes were varied, underlining the intricate nature of burn wound management. Our evaluation revealed promising results for autologous-engineered skin substitutes and allografts but also highlighted methodological disparities among the studies included. The dominance of observational studies and the diversity of outcome measures present obstacles to direct comparisons. Future research should address these limitations, employing well-structured RCTs, standardized outcome measures, and exploring long-term outcomes and patient-specific factors. The rapidly evolving field of regenerative medicine offers great potential for novel grafting methods. This systematic review provides valuable insights into the diverse outcomes of burn reconstruction using different graft types. Autologous-engineered skin substitutes and allografts seem to hold significant promise, suggesting a possible shift in grafting techniques. However, methodological inconsistencies and the lack of high-quality evidence underscore the necessity for further research to fine-tune burn care approaches.

Anatomy, surgical techniques, and clinical outcomes for the medial arm flap: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The medial arm flap (MAF) has been used as a pedicle flap and free flap to reconstruct various deformities, including those of the head and neck, axilla, elbow, chest, and hand. This study reviews the anatomy of the flap, the technique of flap harvest, its clinical applications, and a systematic review of the current published literature. METHODS: An online systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library from inception to September 30, 2023, was completed. Studies that investigate the anatomy, technique or clinical outcomes of medial arm flaps were included. Clinical data extracted includes patient, defect, flap characteristics, complications, and take-back procedures. Anatomic data extracted includes anatomical variations, and vascular characteristics and patterns. RESULTS: Between 1980 and 2023, 50 papers were published outlining the medial arm flap. Anatomic studies detail the anatomy of 384 medial arms, and outcomes are reported for 283 MAFs (75 free flaps and 208 pedicle flaps). The superior ulnar collateral artery is most commonly cited as the dominant arterial supply to the middle third of the medial arm. The majority of patients required reconstruction post-burn (39.2%), trauma (17.7%), and tumor excision (12.4%). MAFs were mostly used to reconstruct defects of the head and neck (41.7%), the hand and wrist (21.9%), and the elbow (16.3%). Eleven flaps (4.1%) suffered partial flap failure, and two flaps (0.7%) suffered total flap failure. CONCLUSION: This manuscript demonstrates that the MAF is a reliable and underutilized flap option with a well-hidden donor scar and a low complication rate.

Free tissue reconstruction of a liquid nitrogen burn: a case report and literature review.

Due to its boiling point of -196°C, liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic substance which is commonly used in many industries for its cooling properties. However, this extreme cooling capability means it also has the potential to inflict severe full-thickness burns. Despite its widespread use in the workplace, very little has been described in the literature regarding complex reconstruction of liquid nitrogen burns. We present a case that is unique, not only in its unusual mechanism of injury, but also in that it is the first described case of free tissue reconstruction of cryogenic burns.

The Silent Threat-Alkali Foot Burn: A Case Report.

Despite current workplace protection measures, chemical burn accidents are not uncommon. Among these, alkali burn is the most challenging due to its silent behaviour and aggressive mechanism. Characterized by its initial painless onset, allowing a prolonged exposure, it tends to result in deeper and more destructive burns, creating major reconstructive and therapeutic challenges. This case concerns a 53-year-old male who sustained a full thickness burn of his left instep foot after prolonged contact with an alkali substance. The wound was submitted to several surgical debridement procedures, with preservation of the major tendinous and vascular-nervous structures. The skin defect was then repaired with skin graft. Early recognition and prompt management with copious and prolonged wound irrigation is paramount. As in this type of burn it is difficult to initially assess its true depth, even after initial surgical debridement, a more cautious approach is recommended. Chronic pain is associated with chemical burns and it should be treated early in the process with the use of multimodal analgesia in order to prevent future complications. No matter the absence of major complaints in the 4 week-postoperative evaluation, the possible long-term consequences are still unknown. Despite the prolonged exposure time and the initial presentation with a deep burn, after several surgical debridement procedures, preservation of major tendon and neurovascular structures was assured, which allowed a plain approach for reconstruction of the wound with a skin graft. The case illustrates different challenges associated with evaluation and treatment of patients with deep alkali burns. Also, usage auditing and awareness of regular users appear to be essential.

Les brûlures chimiques au travail restent relativement fréquentes malgré les mesures de protection. Les atteintes par agent alcalin sont particulièrement problématiques car elles sont insidieuses bien que très destructrices. Le temps de contact est prolongé et les destructions sont majeures, posant de difficiles problèmes de reconstruction, en raison de leur caractère initialement indolore. Nous présentons le cas d'un homme de 53 ans victime d'une brûlure du cou de pied gauche après contact prolongé avec un agent alcalin. Les excisions successives ont permis de préserver les éléments nobles et de greffer secondairement la zone touchée. Il est indispensable de diagnostiquer précisément l'atteinte et de laver la région atteinte à grande eau. La profondeur réelle est difficile à apprécier initialement si bien que les excisions doivent être prudentes. Les douleurs chroniques ne sont pas rares dans ces cas et peuvent être prévenues par la qualité de l'analgésie initiale, multimodale. A un mois, le patient ne se plaint de rien, ce qui ne préjuge pas de complications plus tardives. Malgré un temps de contact prolongé et un aspect initial profond, les éléments nobles on pu être préservés, permettant une couverture par simple greffe. Ce cas illustre les difficultés dans le diagnostic et le traitement des brûlures profondes par base. Il est essentiel d'éduquer et surveiller les usagers réguliers de ces produits.