Although the principles of burn management are still primarily focused on survival, as advances are realized in resuscitation, nutrition, and wound management, the functional and aesthetic outcomes following burn injury have become increasingly important. Acellular dermal matrix materials, which allow surgeons to minimize skin graft donor site morbidity in the process of repairing injured areas, play a role in addressing these important issues. Many favorable reports have been published, but they are generally characterized by small sample sizes, limited objective testing, and retrospective analysis. There does appear to be some evidence for ADM application in patient populations in whom donor site availability (those with massive burns) or morbidity (children, the elderly) is a concern, but more studies are needed. In this article, the authors discuss the current applications for ADM in burn management, review the existing literature, and present opportunities for future research.
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea are upper airway disorders in which the role of the nose has been well researched. Studies support that nasal surgery improves quality of life in snoring, but it may not lead to resolution of snoring. Likewise, nasal treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea increase the quality of life and treatment compliance in some patients. Further stratification of patients who may benefit from nasal intervention may clarify the role of nasal surgery.
Management of the frontal sinus places great demands on the otolaryngologist. Given that the fronto-ethmoidal region is susceptible to recurrent inflammation, scarring, and stenosis, maintaining long-term patency of the frontal sinus is a difficult challenge. Oral and topical anti-inflammatory therapy, post-operative stenting, and 'home-brew' drug elution have been used for the treatment of the frontal sinus with mixed success. Recently an implant has been approved for post-operative placement into the frontal recess. This implant provides reliable and consistent steroid drug elution to address inflammation of the frontal recess secondary to chronic sinusitis. Areas covered: This review discusses the development and application of steroid eluting implants in the postoperative care of patients with chronic frontal sinusitis. All randomized controlled trials evaluating steroid eluting implants are discussed. Relevant supporting material discussing background, economics, safety are included. Expert commentary: Steroid eluting implants fulfill a unique niche in the treatment following frontal sinus surgery. They are shown to decrease the need for post-operative interventions and improve outcomes in patients with chronic sinusitis. There is significant potential for growth in the use of steroid eluting implants.
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