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Burns disrupt the protective skin barrier with consequent loss of cutaneous temperature regulation, infection prevention, evaporative losses, and other vital functions. Chronically, burns lead to scarring, contractures, pain, and impaired psychosocial well-being. Several skin substitutes are available and replace the skin and partially restore functional outcomes and improve cosmesis. We performed a literature review to update readers on biologic and synthetic skin substitutes to date applied in acute and reconstructive burn surgery. Improvement has been rapid in the development of skin substitutes in the last decade; however, no available skin substitute fulfills criteria as a perfect replacement for damaged skin.

Burn wound conversion refers to the phenomenon whereby superficial burns that appear to retain the ability to spontaneously heal, convert later into deeper wounds in need of excision. While no current treatment can definitively stop burn wound conversion, attempts to slow tissue damage remain unsatisfactory, justifying the need for new therapeutic interventions. To attenuate burn wound conversion, various studies have targeted at least one of the molecular mechanisms underlying burn wound conversion, including ischemia, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, generation of reactive oxygen species, hypothermia, and wound rehydration. However, therapeutic strategies that can target various mechanisms involved in burn wound conversion are still lacking. This review highlights the pathophysiology of burn wound conversion and focuses on recent studies that have turned to the novel use of biologics such as mesenchymal stem cells, biomaterials, and immune regulators to mitigate wound conversion. Future research should investigate mechanistic pathways, side effects, safety, and efficacy of these different treatments before translation into clinical studies.

Background: Prominent ears are a common congenital deformity of the head and neck. Correcting concha hypertrophy is an important step in otoplasty. Despite the risk of postoperative deformity due to the sharp edges created by excision, removing a section of cartilage is sometimes the only method to obtain a satisfying and long-lasting result. Multiple conchal excision techniques have been reported in the literature, with significant differences in approach, outcome evaluation, and complication classification. The objective was to review cartilage excision-based otoplasty procedures to offer plastic surgeons’ insights into current data on outcomes and complications of conchal excision techniques. Methods: We conducted a literature search through the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Prospective and retrospective studies on otoplasty, including revision surgeries and conchal excision techniques involving concha cartilage resection, were included. Articles with no outcomes data, review articles, case reports, expert opinion or comment, and nonclinical studies were excluded. Results: There were a total of four manuscripts that fulfilled our criteria. Three out of four authors preferred posterior access that separates the skin excision from the cartilage excision. Following resection, cartilage edges can be approximated by placing cartilage sutures, or they can be allowed to collapse spontaneously. Although only two authors employed a systematic classification for complications, all the articles reviewed indicated a low complication rate and excellent postoperative cosmetic outcomes. Conclusion: Although the techniques and principles stated in the literature varied to some extent, the outcomes of all studies reviewed were comparable.

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