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Background: In burn care, achieving swift healing with minimal complications remains paramount. This investigation assesses the role of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) in managing pediatric superficial partial-thickness burns, focusing on the effects of various patient-specific factors on recovery. Methods: Through a retrospective analysis of 27 pediatric cases treated with PHMB, we evaluated the impact of age, burn size, dressing frequency, treatment delay, cold therapy application, and analgesic usage on the time until reepithelialization (TTRE). Results: The majority of patients benefited from early cold therapy, yet only 1 in 3 patients received analgesics. A mean healing time of 8.78 (SD: 2.64) days was observed, with the extent of the burn showing a strong correlation (r: 0.63) to TTRE. Most treatments were managed outpatient, evidenced by a negligible average hospital stay (0.96 days), with recorded no complications. Conclusions: Our findings endorse PHMB as a promising treatment for superficial second-degree burns in young patients, due to the observed stable and rapid wound closure without the association of increased risks. Continued exploration into the optimal application of prehospital interventions and the comprehensive benefits of PHMB in pediatric burn management is necessary. Future research should assess long-term outcomes, including functionality, scar quality, and patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of articular injury, particularly osteochondral fractures (OCFs), has seen a cinnotable increase in recent years. Regardless of their location, fragments can be overlooked by plain radiographs, which might lead to osteoarthritis in the long run. Diagnostic imaging has a pivotal role in the assessment and classification of the fracture severity, as well as the presence of any associated dislocations. These fractures require surgical intervention for the restoration of joint function and the reduction of long-term complications. This paper aims to present the surgical correction and post-operative treatment of osteochondral fractures with absorbable implants in four children. The following affected areas are discussed: lateral condyle of the femur, patella and radial head. Utilising absorbable implants for the management of OCFs provides numerous advantages, including the elimination of the need for re-anaesthesia and reoperation, reduction of complications and facilitation of early rehabilitation. This approach also minimises the period of hospitalisation and proves effective in pediatric OCF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syndactyly is the most common congenital malformation of the hand, leading to the fusion of the digits and frequently affecting the ring and middle fingers. The incidence is 1 out of 2500 children, predominantly occurring in boys and Caucasians. Clinically, the malformation may present as a soft tissue or bony fusion, resulting in the union of the fingers characterised as complete or incomplete. This fusion may involve the phalanges but may also extend to the carpal/tarsal bones, even to the metacarpal or metatarsal level, rarely to the distal end of the forearm and lower leg. The malformation is mostly isolated but may occur together with other disorders or malformations such as synostosis, acro-syndactyly, cleft hand, clinodactyly, or polydactyly. Syndromic syndactyly can be observed in cases of Apert syndrome, Poland's syndrome, Pfeiffer syndrome, and many others. A girl born in June of 2019 was diagnosed with congenital malformation of the right hand at birth—affecting the right middle, ring, and little fingers, respectively. After X-ray imaging, the fusion of the third and fourth proximal phalanges to a common metacarpal was identified, forming a unique diagnosis of clino-syndactyly with metacarpal aplasia. Surgical intervention was advocated for, including a wedge osteotomy to correct the synchondrosis at the phalangeal base and a dorsal flap to close the interdigital space created during the correction of the III and IV. fingers. A trapezoid flap for the release of the syndactyly of the IV and V. fingers was applied. The paper aims to present this surgical correction and its results regarding an atypical case of syndactyly with clinodactyly and metacarpal aplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paediatric second-degree burn injuries are a significant source of medical challenges to the population that may cause severe, lifelong complications. Currently, there are dozens of therapeutic modalities and we aimed to summarise their reported outcomes and determine their effectiveness, compared to the widely used silver sulphadiazine (SSD). Methods: We conducted the meta-analysis and systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which investigated the performance of dressings in acute paediatric partial-thickness burns. The evaluated endpoints were time until wound closure, grafting and infection rate, number of dressing changes and length of hospitalisation. Results: Twenty-nine RCTs were included in the qualitative and 25 in the quantitative synthesis, but only three trials compared SSD directly to the same intervention (Biobrane). Data analysis showed a tendency for faster healing times and a reduced complication rate linked to biosynthetic, silver foam and amnion membrane dressings. A substantial difference was found between the number of dressing changes associated with less pain, narcosis and treatment duration. Conclusions: Considerable between-study heterogeneity was caused by the unequal depth subcategory ratio and surface area of the injuries; therefore, no significant difference was found in the main outcomes. Further research is necessary to establish the most effective treatment for these burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulnar dimelia, also known as "mirror hand disorder", is a rare developmental disorder affecting the upper limb. Primarily, it involves the duplication of fingers, carpal bones, metacarpals, or ulna along the sagittal axis, and is often accompanied by the absence of the radius or thumb. The anomaly presents challenges in both bone and soft tissue development, impacting limb functionality and affecting a child's quality of life. We present the case of a one-year-old girl with unilateral ulnar dimelia. Surgical intervention was considered to address functional and aesthetic concerns. The surgery involved creating an opposable thumb from preaxial fingers through a carefully tailored approach. Post surgical therapy included physiotherapy and psychotherapy to ensure both physical functionality and psychological adjustment. The surgical procedure successfully provided an adequate grip pattern, and the patient demonstrated age-appropriate use of the modified hand at the six-month follow-up. Comparison with similar cases highlights the diversity in ulnar dimelia presentations and the need for customised surgical solutions. The timing of surgery is typically recommended between one and two years, considering both anatomical readiness and the advantages of cerebral plasticity in young patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep partial and full-thickness burns require surgical treatment with autologous skin grafts after necrectomy, which is the generally accepted way to achieve permanent wound coverage. This study sought to examine the grafted and donor areas of children who underwent autologous skin transplantation, using two assessment scales to determine the severity of the scarring and the cosmetic outcome during long-term follow-up. At the Surgical Unit of the Department of Paediatrics of the University of Pécs, between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019, children who had been admitted consecutively and received autologous skin transplantation were analyzed. Twenty patients met the inclusion criteria in this retrospective cohort study. The authors assessed the results using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). There was a significant difference in how parents and examiners perceived the children's scars. In the evaluation of the observer scale, the most critical variables for the area of skin grafted were relief and thickness. Besides color, relief was the worst clinical characteristic on the patient scale. However, when medical professionals evaluated the donor site, significantly better results were obtained compared to the transplanted area (average observer scale score: 1.4 and 2.35, p = 0.001; VSS: 0.85 vs. 2.60, p < 0.001), yet it was similar to the graft site in the parents' opinion (Patient Scale: 2.95 and 4.45, p = 0.181). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]