Thirteen children, aged between 2 1/2 and 14 years, with full-thickness burns are presented. These children were treated with compression suits according to the method developed by the Jobst Institute in Toledo, Ohio. The material manufactured in Switzerland is described and the advantages and disadvantages of this material are discussed. Group I comprised 8 children who were fitted out with the suit directly after the burns had healed. These were all scalds covering 11 to 30% of the body surface and necessitating Thiersch grafts. Group 2 comprised 5 children who were only fitted with this suit 3 months to 2 years after the original accident. By that time they had all developed massive, hypertrophied scars, limiting flexion and extension of the joints. In the first group the skin colour rapidly returned to normal, the development of hypertrophic scars was not marked and these scars had a definite tendency to regress. Nine of ten affected joints either became normal or showed a considerable improvement in function. In the second group, 19 of 25 affected joints had become normal one year after the suits had been fitted and four showed definite improvement. Here the scars regressed, although admittedly slower than in the first group. The children appeared to wear the suits without discomfort or trouble.

The authors report on their experiences with 21 patients with skull defects which were closed by polymethylmethacrylated plates (PMMA) from 1974 to 1990 at the University Children's Hospital in Zurich and the "Gemeinschaftspraxis fuer Kinderchirurgie". The results were compared with 15 cases treated by autologous grafts. Because of false indication, one case of PMMA-plasty led to an infected fistula. Otherwise no adverse reactions were noted. Three of the 15 cases with autologous grafts showed resorption. Polymethylmethacrylate is an excellent agent for skull reconstruction. The simple procedure, shorter OP time, and lack of pain or disfigurement due to a donor site signify a great advantage to this method.

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54 children already presented in Part 1 were analysed with regard to their preoperative aetiopathological findings and evolution of different parameters until surgery. Our interest was focussed on possible correlations between brain malformation and head circumference as well as both ICP and neurological evolution. We examined the presence of infectious diseases in the preoperative period and checked on the advantage of a perioperative antibiotic therapy. We could not find any correlation between the aetiopathological findings in X-ray investigation and head circumference or ICP or preoperative neurological findings. Perioperative antibiotic therapy does not seem to be an additional safety factor.