Most skin tumors are not fatal, but if not treated in a timely manner, they can lead to significant morbidity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to create more capacities for the treatment of COVID-19-positive patients as well as to contain the spread of the virus, the healthcare system was reorganized worldwide, leading to decreased access to preventive screening programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on healthcare accessibility to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma patients in Serbia. This retrospective study was conducted at the Clinic for Burns, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery, University Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade. Patient demographics and pathohistological findings of tumors of patients living in and outside the capital in the period before, during, and after the pandemic were compared. The two groups did not show any differences regarding the largest tumor diameter prior and during the pandemic; however, this difference became extremely noticeable after the pandemic (15 mm vs. 27 mm; p < 0.001). While cSCCs are commonly slow-growing tumors, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not negligible. This study found a population at a significant risk of cSCC metastasis, with additional evidence likely to emerge in the upcoming years.

Background: Many European countries’ epidemiological data on burns were analyzed. This research aimed to analyze the key epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized burn patients in Serbia’s major burn unit over 10 years, as well as to create the very first national epidemiological dataset with the basic requirements for future epidemiological studies. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted, and demographic, clinical, and burn characteristics, as well as predictors of mortality, were analyzed. Results: A total of 996 patients were included. The mean age of the population was 54.65 ± 27.15 years. Regarding etiology, flame was the most common (49.0%). Patient comorbidities were noted on admission in 50.1% of cases. The mean % of total burn surface area (TBSA) was 16.89 ± 18.72%. Inhalation injury was confirmed in 7.5% of patients, and a total of 10.3% of patients required mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. The requirement for mechanical ventilation support was the strongest independent predictor of mortality, while other independent predictors of mortality were male gender, higher %TBSA, deep burns, mechanism of injury, an extended total length of stay (LOS), the occurrence of complications during hospitalization, and conservative treatment modalities. Conclusion: Burn injury mortality remains high, and %TBSA, burn depth, mechanical ventilation requirement, inhalation injury, and the presence of comorbidities on admission unfavorably influence mortality rates.

Background: Burn wound dressing and debridement are excruciatingly painful procedures that call for appropriate analgesia—typically multimodal. Better post-procedural pain management, less opioid use, and consequently fewer side effects, which could prolong recovery and increase morbidity, are all benefits of this type of analgesia. Intravenously administered ketamine can be effective as monotherapy or in combination with opioids, especially with procedural sedation such as in burn wound dressing. Methods: This observational study investigated the effect of ketamine administered in subanesthetic doses combined with opioids during burn wound dressing. The study was conducted from October 2018 to October 2021. A total of 165 patients met the inclusion criteria. A total of 82 patients were in the ketamine group, while 83 patients were dressed without ketamine. The main outcome was the effect of ketamine on intraprocedural opioid consumption. The secondary outcome included the effect of ketamine on postprocedural pain control. Results: Patients dressed with ketamine were significantly older (p = 0.001), while the mean doses of intraoperatively administered propofol and fentanyl were significantly lower than in patients dressed without ketamine (150 vs. 220 mg, p < 0.001; and 0.075 vs. 0.150 mg, p < 0.001; respectively). Conclusions: Ketamine was an independent predictor of lower intraoperative fentanyl consumption, according to the multivariate regression analysis (p = 0.015). Contrarily, both groups of patients required postoperative tramadol treatment, while intraoperative ketamine administration had no beneficial effects on postoperative pain management.

Background/Objectives: Integra Dermal Regeneration Template (IDRT) has emerged as a viable reconstructive option in exposed avascular structures, such as exposed bone devoid of periosteum. This systematic review aimed at examining success rates by comparing different wound types and their characteristics, as well as the surgical methods involved. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies using IDRT in the reconstruction of defects with exposed bone devoid of periosteum. Primary outcomes of interest were IDRT and skin graft success rates, followed by patient and wound characteristics, and different surgical methods used. The results were accompanied by an illustrative case report of IDRT-based hand reconstruction after a deep burn injury. Results: The review included 40 studies, with a total of 202 individual defects. The primary indication for IDRT-based reconstruction was post-oncologic defects in the elderly population. Although surgeons mostly used burring/fenestration as a bone preparation method prior to IDRT placement, decorticated bones showed faster grafting time (23.8 vs. 27.9 days). The average success rate of IDRT was 87.54% (±25.9), with an excellent IDRT take rate (100%) observed in more than 50% of cases. In the majority of cases (95.5%), the skin graft acceptance rate was deemed to be higher than 95%, with an average graft take of 98.8%. Conclusions: The results of this review support the use of IDRT in managing complex defects involving exposed bone, offering fast coverage with good functional restoration, without any donor site morbidity. Additionally, bone preparation methods also play an important role in IDRT-based reconstruction by shortening the grafting time.

Background: Post-burn neck contractures continue to represent a complex reconstructive problem, with significant functional limitations and a marked impact on patients’ appearance and quality of life. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess surgical outcomes in adult patients undergoing reconstruction for post-burn neck contractures. Methods: A comprehensive search of Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed up to January 2025. Studies reporting surgical management of post-burn neck contractures were included. Primary outcomes were functional and aesthetic improvement, while secondary outcomes included complications, recontracture, and disfiguring scarring. Results: In total, 46 studies comprising 1636 patients were included. Flap-based reconstruction was the most frequently applied approach. Overall, functional improvement was achieved in 92% of cases (95% CI: 89–94%), while satisfactory aesthetic outcomes were reported in 90% (95% CI: 85–93%). The pooled complication rate was 15% (95% CI: 11–20%), with higher rates observed following free flap reconstruction. The incidence of recontracture and disfiguring scarring remained relatively low, about 6%. Although functional outcomes were comparable across flap types, regional flaps appeared to offer the most favorable balance between aesthetic results and complication rates. In contrast, skin grafts and dermal substitutes showed less consistent outcomes and a higher tendency toward recurrence. Conclusions: Flap-based reconstruction remains the cornerstone of treatment for post-burn neck contractures. Surgical planning should be individualized, taking into account defect severity, tissue availability, and surgical expertise. Further prospective studies using standardized outcome measures are needed to strengthen current evidence.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful nodules, abscesses, and sinus tracts in apocrine gland-rich areas, leading to significant impairment in patients’ quality of life (QoL). Persistent symptoms affect physical functioning, psychological well-being, social interactions, and intimate relationships. Therefore, validated disease-specific instruments are essential for accurate QoL assessment in different populations. Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the Serbian version of the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life Questionnaire (HSQoL-24). Methods: The validation process followed established methodological guidelines for psychometric evaluation. The Serbian HSQoL-24 version demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. Internal consistency was excellent, with a Cronbach α of 0.907. Test–retest reliability was confirmed using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.986 for the total score, demonstrating satisfactory reproducibility over time. A strong positive correlation was observed between the HSQoL-24 and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) total scores (Spearman’s ρ = 0.806, p < 0.001), confirming good convergent validity, particularly in domains related to symptoms and feelings, occupational or educational functioning, and interpersonal relationships. Moreover, total HSQoL-24 scores increased significantly with disease severity, indicating the questionnaire’s ability to discriminate between patients with different Hurley stages and confirming its discriminant validity. Conclusions: The Serbian version of the HSQoL-24 questionnaire exhibits appropriate internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. These results support its use as a reliable and valid disease-specific instrument for assessing QoL in Serbian-speaking patients with HS in both clinical practice and research settings.