Toe-to-hand transfer in a severely burned upper limb: a surgical dilemma.

Reconstruction of the burned thumb is a challenge to the plastic surgeon and the goal of the surgery is to achieve a functionally and aesthetically acceptable hand. We report a case of a patient who presented with extensive scarring of the upper limb and atrophic thumb due to severe burns and multiple surgical procedures. The patient had limited reconstructive options, and had a free toe-to-thumb transfer with successful outcome in a technically challenging situation 37 years after the injury.

Precision and symmetry in aesthetic plastic surgery "What Immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry" (William Blake).

Attaining symmetry is indispensable for a successful aesthetic outcome of plastic surgical procedures. In this paper we propose a simple technique for accurate placement of markings during surgery. This technique is simple, quick and does not require any special instruments.

The mystery of the split earlobe.

The ancient art of body piercing has rejuvenated in the recent years as part of the fashion process. The ear is the most frequent body part to be pierced to wear jewelry. Split earlobes are commonly presented to plastic surgeons and the recurrence rate is high.

Injuries to children caused by burning rice husk.

A case study of injury to the feet of children from Sri Lanka due to burning husk is discussed. The hot husk causes deep burns on the dorsum of the feet and spares the plantar surface. The contractures caused by the burns lead to severe deformity, and are very resistant to treatment.