Salvaging collateral damage by COVID-19 pandemic in form of exposed silicone ear framework in 33-year post reconstructed ear

Total ear reconstruction is being practiced by different techniques. Ready to use Silicone ear framework (Silastic ear framework by Dow corning) was being used frequently by Plastic surgeons in the eighties and nineties of the twentieth century. Framework exposure, either due to skin necrosis or due to infection used to be the commonest complication in the early postoperative period. A follow-up case of a 50 year old male patient, our 33 years follow up case of Total ear reconstruction by silicone ear framework implantation presented to us with exposed silicone framework and infection. Due to constant use of facemask with elastic ear loop for support during COVID-19 pandemic. The exposed infected implant successfully salvaged using negative pressure wound therapy. In all cases of autologous or alloplastic ear reconstruction, we strictly recommend not to use facemasks with elastic ear loops. If a facemask has to be used it should have a head loop or to be used with an ear protector. 

ARC technique – An innovative method to assess true defect in postburn contracture release

Most commonly, skin grafts are used to resurface the raw areas resulting after the release of postburn contractures but in the extensively burned patient, donor sites may be limited. There is no accurate technique described in literature for the assessment of the true defect preoperatively. We describe a technique to accurately assess the true defect which helps to determine the amount of skin graft required preoperatively