First do no harm: A patient-reported survey of split skin graft donor site morbidities following thin and super-thin graft harvest.

The split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site is the commonest used during burn surgery which has its own complications and as such the focus should be on minimizing it. Modifications to practice in our unit which we believe aid this include limiting the amount of STSG taken and the harvest of super-thin STSGs, with 0.003-0.005 in. (0.08-0.13 mm) being the commonest dermatome settings used. A patient-reported survey via a mobile phone link to a questionnaire was sent to 250 patients who had a STSG for an acute burn between 1st August 2020 and 31st July 2021. Patient demographics were collected from electronic records including the thickness of the FTSG taken when recorded. Patient responses were statistically analyzed and logistic regression with backwards elimination was performed to explore which contributing factors led to an improved experience of the donor site. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 107 patients (43%). These were between one and two and a half years after the injury. Concerning early donor site issues, itch was a problem for 52% of patients, pain was a problem for 48% of patients. Less common problems (fewer than 25% of patients) were leaking donor sites, wound breakdown, and over-granulation. Regarding long-term outcomes, increased, decreased or mixed pigmentation at the donor site was reported by 32% patients at the time of the survey. Hyper-vascular donor sites were reported by 24% patients. Raised or uneven feeling donor sites were reported by 19% patients, firm or stiff donor sites by 13% patients, and altered sensation by 10% patients. At the time of the survey, 70% responders reported their donor site looked "the same or about the same as my normal skin". Of these, 62 reported how long it took for this to happen, and it equates to a third looking normal at 6 months and half looking normal at a year. For the 32 patients who reported their donor site looking abnormal, 72% were "not bothered" by it. Patients with super-thin grafts (0.003-0.005 in.) were significantly more likely to have normal sensation, normal stiffness, and be less raised at their donor sites than those who had thin grafts (0.006-0.008 in.). This survey gives important information on patients' experiences of donor site morbidity that may form part of an informed consent process and allow tailored advice. Furthermore, it suggests that super-thin grafts may provide a superior donor site experience for patients.

Burns dressings.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries are common and costly; each year, there are more than 200,000 cases, costing the Australian community $150 million. Management of smaller burn injuries in the community can be improved by appropriate first aid, good burn dressings and wound management. This can reduce the risk of the burn becoming deeper or infected, and can potentially reduce the requirement for specialist review or surgery. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to provide healthcare professionals with information about the pathophysiology of burn wound progression. This information includes the aims of burn wound dressings and indications for different types of dressings in different burn depths, advantages of blister debridement, and the reasoning behind advice given to patients after healing of the burn wound. DISCUSSION: This article provides a framework used by the State Burn Service of Western Australia, by which clinicians can understand the needs of a specific burn wound and apply these principles when choosing an appropriate burn dressing for their patient. Every intervention in the journey of a patient with a burn injury affects their eventual outcome. By managing all burn injuries effectively at every single step, we can reduce burn injury morbidity as a community.

Chondrosarcomatous Differentiation in a Large Malignant Melanoma of the Scalp.

Background. Divergent differentiation in malignant melanoma is a rare phenomenon, which can lead to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, impacting upon patient treatment and outcome, as well as the understanding of tumour behaviour. Case. We present the case of a large long-standing tumour on the scalp of a 72-year-old female patient, which when excised and examined histologically was revealed to be a nodular malignant melanoma displaying chondrosarcomatous differentiation. Foci suggestive of lentigo maligna were also present. Rapid metastatic spread of the tumour was observed shortly after the primary resection. Discussion. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature of chondrosarcomatous differentiation in a lentigo maligna melanoma. The clinical and histopathological details and images of this case are presented alongside a discussion regarding such tumours and patterns of similar tumour behaviour.

Comparison of mortality prediction models in burns ICU patients in Pinderfields Hospital over 3 years.

BACKGROUND: Many different burns mortality prediction models exist; however most agree that important factors that can be weighted include the age of the patient, the total percentage of body surface area burned and the presence or absence of smoke inhalation. METHODS: A retrospective review of all burns primarily admitted to Pinderfields Burns ICU under joint care of burns surgeons and intensivists for the past 3 years was completed. Predicted mortality was calculated using the revised Baux score (2010), the Belgian Outcome in Burn Injury score (2009) and the Boston group score by Ryan et al. (1998). Additionally 28 of the 48 patients had APACHE II scores recorded on admission and the predicted and actual mortality of this group were compared. RESULTS: The Belgian score had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value (72%/85%); followed by the Boston score (66%/78%) and then the revised Baux score (53%/70%). APACHE II scores had higher sensitivity (81%) and NPV (92%) than any of the burns scores. DISCUSSION: In our group of burns ICU patients the Belgian model was the most sensitive and specific predictor of mortality. In our subgroup of patients with APACHE II data, this score more accurately predicted survival and mortality.

Effects of perforator number and location on the total pedicle flow and perfusion of zone IV skin and fat of DIEP flaps.

BACKGROUND: DIEP flaps are a popular choice for autologous breast reconstruction, though many surgeons routinely discard zone IV, limiting transferrable tissue. We investigated the effect of altering number and location of perforators supplying the flap on total pedicle flow and perfusion of skin and fat of zone IV. METHODS: 20 cranially-based abdominal epigastric perforator flaps were raised in rats on two perforators. The perforators were sequentially clamped and released in a randomised order and total pedicle flow measured using microvascular flow-probes, on the following perforator combinations: 13 DIEP flaps were raised in post-mastectomy patients requiring breast reconstruction on two perforators. These were clamped and released as before to assess perfusion of fat and skin in zone IV using SPY indocyanine-green-fluorescence-angiography scans on the same perforator combinations as in our animal study, listed above. RESULTS: All data were analysed using 2-way-ANOVA and revealed that vascular flow was significantly (p < 0.0001) greater on one perforator as opposed to two. These results were supported by our human study, revealing both zone IV fat and skin perfusion were significantly (p < 0.0001) greater when a single perforator was used. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests total pedicle flow and perfusion of zone IV fat and skin is significantly higher on a single perforating blood vessel as opposed to two. Reasons for these observed differences could be due to changing pressure gradients across a piece of tissue prone to venous congestion, with maintenance of flow better in a single lumen.