Safety and efficacy of a bilayered skin construct in full-thickness surgical wounds.

This was a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of a living bilayered skin construct (BSC; Organogenesis, Canton, MA) in treating full-thickness surgical excision wounds. We enrolled 31 patients needing excision of a non-melanoma skin cancer. The patients consisted of 18 females and 13 males, with an average age of 67 years (range: 44 to 84 years). Patients were randomized to either receive a single application of BSC or to heal by secondary intention. Endpoints to assess efficacy included time to complete wound closure, intensity and duration of post-operative pain, cosmetic appearance, patient satisfaction, and quality of the healed wound. Endpoints to assess safety included infection at the wound site and rejection of the BSC. Findings indicate that BSC is safe in the post-operative treatment of acute surgical wounds for removal of non-melanoma skin cancer. The data also suggest that BSC may facilitate management by decreasing post-operative pain. It is unclear whether or not BSC decreases healing time of acute wounds or results in a better cosmetic outcome.

Hot pop brown spot: erythema Ab igne induced by heated popcorn.

Erythema ab igne is caused by chronic heat exposure and presents with reticulated pigmentation. Although various causes of erythema ab igne have been reported, in the United States, its incidence has been declining due to the advent of central heating. When seen, it is usually in the setting of local applications of a heated source, such as a hot water bottle, to treat muscular or arthritic pains. We report a novel cause of erythema ab igne occurring in a patient with chronic arthritic pains. This patient applied popcorn kernels, heated in a microwave, to his right wrist and knee for 30 minutes at a time for over four months.