• Julie T Lin and Willibald Nagler.
• Physiatry Department, Hospital for Special Surgery and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA. j_lin4@yahoo.com
• Burns. 2003 Sep 1; 29 (6): 599-602.

ObjectiveTo introduce the advantages of surface scanning over conventional burn mask construction to produce better fitting transparent facial orthoses (TFO).DesignTwo case reports.SettingRegional burn center.ParticipantsTwo burn survivors who sustained 25% and 82% total body surface area second and third degree flame burns, respectively.DescriptionA 50-year-old male who sustained 4.5% second and third degree facial burns and a 41-year-old female who sustained 6% second and third degree facial burns during the World Trade Center were fitted with a digitally produced TFO approximately 4 months after injury. After the patients were scanned, the images were edited to smooth existing scars and replicated as a mold through which the healing process was observed.Results/DiscussionFacial burns represent many psychological and rehabilitation challenges. We recommend the use of a digitally produced device in patients with severe facial burns who require constant pressure to minimize hypertrophic scarring and to improve cosmesis. Scar management studies have shown that surface scanning results in a better fitting mask than conventional fabrication, without the labor-intensive, time-consuming, and imprecise process, which may delay treatment effects. The conventional process is slow and anxiety-provoking, especially for children, who often require anesthesia. In contrast, the head scanner rotates 360 degrees around the pateint's head, painlessly and accurately capturing the profile and contour of the face in 7s. Since the procurement of this scanner, our two patients, as well as many other burn victims, have greatly benefited from the creation of face masks utilizing this equipment. We believe that all rehabilitation professionals caring for burn patients should be aware of this new technology.

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