Since the pioneering use of autologous rib cartilage for the reconstruction of microtia, there have been significant advances in surgical technique that have helped to ameliorate the psychological burden of microtia. To date, the use of rib cartilage for auricular reconstruction is one of the most enduring and ubiquitous techniques for microtia reconstruction as it provides excellent aesthetic results with lasting durability. In this review, the authors outline the most common methods of microtia reconstruction with a comparison of each technique and illustrative case examples.

The management of craniosynostosis, especially in the setting of craniofacial syndromes, is ideally done in a multidisciplinary clinic with a team focused toward comprehensive care. Craniosynostosis is a congenital disorder of the cranium, caused by the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. This fusion results in abnormal cranial growth due to the inability of the involved sutures to accommodate the growing brain. Skull growth occurs only at the patent sutures, resulting in an abnormal head shape. If cranial growth is severely restricted, as seen in multisuture craniosynostosis, elevation in intracranial pressure can occur. Whereas most patients treated in a multidisciplinary craniofacial clinic have non-syndromic or isolated craniosynostosis, the most challenging patients are those with syndromic craniosynostosis. The purpose of this article was to discuss the multidisciplinary team care required to treat both syndromic and non-syndromic craniosynostosis.

Ear prominence is a relatively common cosmetic deformity with no associated functional deficits, but with profound psychosocial impact, especially in young patients. Protruding ears in children have propagated surgical advances that incorporate reconstructive techniques. Here we outline a systematic framework to evaluate the protruding ear and present various reconstructive surgical options for correction. Both cosmetic and reconstructive perspectives should be entertained when addressing this anatomical deformity.

A critical challenge arising during a surgical procedure for tumor removal is the determination of tumor margins. Gold nanorods (GNRs) conjugated to epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) (GNRs-EGFR) have long been used in the detection of cancerous cells as the expression of EGFR dramatically increases once the tissue becomes cancerous. Optical techniques for the identification of these GNRs-EGFR in tumor are intensively developed based on the unique scattering and absorption properties of the GNRs. In this study, we investigate the distribution of the GNRs in tissue sections presenting squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to evaluate the SCC margins. Air scanning electron microscopy (airSEM), a novel, high resolution microscopy is used, enabling to localize and actually visualize nanoparticles on the tissue. The airSEM pictures presented a gradient of GNRs from the tumor to normal epithelium, spread in an area of 1 mm, suggesting tumor margins of 1 mm. Diffusion reflection (DR) measurements, performed in a resolution of 1 mm, of human oral SCC have shown a clear difference between the DR profiles of the healthy epithelium and the tumor itself.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been challenging global health, in many countries all non-urgent medical treatments were postponed in order to focus health systems, workforce and other resources on crucial treatments for COVID-19 patients. The pediatric cases are a minority of all COVID-19 patients and might present atypically. Due to an increase in pediatric burn cases we decided to establish an outpatient pre-hospital clinic as an intermediate “station”, in order to triage pediatric burn patients into those who present at our hospital, and those treated via telemedicine. We divided our tactics into environmental and patient management both in hospitalized and outpatient patients, also medical staff management including preventive care, surgery, and bedside procedures. We found that patients and their escorts waited longer before arriving to the Emergency Room, apparently trying to avoid the hospital visit. A higher proportion of patients was hospitalized during the pandemic (4.5% in 2020, compared to 2.6% and 2.0% in 2019 and 2018, respectively). However, the length of stay was similar to routine periods, the surgery rate and length of follow up until healing was similar to that of the same month in previous years. We assume that these factors reflect treatment quality, which was not affected, due to the use of telemedicine, and that our treatment standards were maintained. It is important to have a good regulation system of prevention and care, including the tactics described below.