Split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) are the mainstay of treatment for wounds too large to heal via linear closure. However, they fail to adequately reproduce basic functions of skin such as temperature regulation, pliability, uniform texture and color, and lubrication. Additionally, STSG donor sites subject patients to new, open wounds that can serve as a source of significant pain and result in scarring.

Severe electrical burns are uncommon. They usually occur on the upper extremities with exit sites on the lower extremities. We present a case of a patient with an electrical burn to the posterior scalp that exited the buttock and ultimately lead to cerebral edema, herniation and death.

Burn care (BC) remains a highly specialized and resource intensive specialty with only 2% of hospitals featuring a burn center and less than 1% of graduating general surgery and plastic surgery residents pursing a burn fellowship each year. Access to specialized care is further complicated by burn wound assessment (BWA) which is commonly performed visually without adjunctive devices.

Our center previously reported a modified MEEK technique that provides reliable skin transfer using a specific adhesive called “The Rule of Sevens”.1 This innovative approach has become a consistent part of our practice and we have experienced good outcomes as a result.

Skin grafts are one of the most common procedures performed by surgeons. Although graft take rates are generally thought of as very high, this number is difficult to ascertain as graft take largely relies on the recipient wound bed. In cases where the wound bed is poorly vascularized, as in the case of exposed fascia, tendon, or bone, skin grafting is often delayed until the wound bed improves.

With an estimated cost of eight billion dollars per year, burn injury care places a significant financial burden on our healthcare system both at the national and local levels. Of the most vulnerable, community health centers (CHCs) intended to serve high need areas and underserved populations face a constant strain in a resource-poor environment.

Diabetic neuropathy damages nerves leading to numbness and loss of sensation in feet, rendering those patients more susceptible to burns. A 5 year chart review revealed that our burn center manages 9-14 adult plantar foot burns annually. During Spring and Summer, temperatures rise and more people go to the beach and pool.