Harnessing the Transparent Face Orthosis for facial scar management: a comparison of methods.

The Transparent Face Orthosis (TFO) is widely used in the treatment of facial burns to minimize hypertrophic scarring and maintain the contours of the face against deforming scars. Compression of the TFO is achieved with forces provided by the harness system (straps and anchors) used to secure the TFO on the face. A variety of harness system designs are used clinically yet none have been described or compared in the literature.

Comparison of self-reports and parent proxy-reports of function and quality of life of children with below-the-elbow deficiency.

Background: The agreement between children's self-reports and parent proxy-reports has not been established for function and quality-of-life measures for children with musculoskeletal diagnoses, including unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency. Factors influencing parent-child agreement in this population have yet to be determined.

Methods: Ten hospitals administered the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) prospectively to children and adolescents with a unilateral congenital below-the-elbow deficiency in order to assess their function and quality of life.