Summary Now that partial face transplantation has been performed, attention is focused on likely functional, aesthetic and immunological outcomes, and full facial transplantation is the likely next step. Facial transplantation has been the source of ethical debate, a key part of which focuses on valid informed consent. We review the process of informed consent in health settings, assessing how applicable the current standards are for facial transplantation. The factors which need to be assessed during the screening programme are outlined. We conclude that both individual and process factors are important in obtaining consent for radical new procedures, and outline our own gold standard for ensuring informed consent in facial transplantation.

This article reviews the important developments, recent and historical, in burn fluid resuscitation. Modern managements, debates, and research directions are discussed, with a key question of how to transcend the current therapeutic plateau.

The authors worked in a busy regional fracture unit, where it was noted that important data was being omitted from medical notes. In an attempt to improve on this, an admission proforma was formulated. This was designed to be easily and quickly completed. Notes were audited on two separate weeks, the first before, and the second after introduction of the proforma. The overall results demonstrate statistically significant improvements in documentation with a proforma, and concur with the limited previous literature in this area.

A unique case of congenital nasal septal deformity is reported with a chronological summary of literature pertaining to congenital nasal defects.

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