Microsurgery, a pivotal surgical field that changed medical perspectives in the 20th century, presents numerous technical challenges due to the precision it requires from the surgeon. To acquire the requisite skills, comprehensive training is imperative. Initiation into microsurgical training on experimental models is a prerequisite before translating these skills to clinical applications. The employment of non-living models in medical training offers a myriad of advantages, notably characterized by their accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Non-living models, such as latex gloves, leaves, flower petals, silicon tubes and chicken legs, provide aspiring microsurgeons an opportunity to train the essential technical skills required in microsurgical practice. Such models significantly alleviate ethical concern associated with the use of live specimens and human cadaveric models. Furthermore, they exhibit a satisfactory emulation of human vascular properties, providing a realistic context for medical practice. Although the primary focus of this paper is on non-living models, it is important to highlight the transition to living models, specifically small animal models, as a mandatory and advanced phase in microsurgical training, before translating to clinical practice.

Infections represent the most common complication occurring during the evolution of the severely burned patient, hence requiring closer study and targeted result analysis. The fungal infections are one of the most aggressive types of existing infections, their opportunistic character enabling them to cause invasive infections, ultimately leading to a higher morbidity and a higher rate of mortality. The present study focuses on the presence of Candida spp. in 19 out of a total of 70 patients admitted to the Critical Care Burn Unit in the Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, between 01.01.2019-31.12.2019. No other fungal species, besides Candida spp., were identified in this patient lot. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk factors and the dynamics of the biological parameters of the patients presenting Candida spp. infections, in order to determine how these contribute to the prognostic and final outcome of these patients. We can conclude that a precise diagnostic and prompt treatment can make a significant difference in the outcome of severely burnt patients presenting with a fungal infection.

Facial nerve paralysis is a debilitating condition with multiple etiologies, with aesthetic, functional, psychological and social impact. Given the complex multitude of causes that may generate such condition, a therapeutic algorithm is mandatory when attempting reconstruction. Severity, timing, patient adherence to a rehabilitation program, status of ipsilateral and contralateral facial nerves and particularities of each patient are all criteria which should be accounted when choosing a treatment option. After initial assessment, a variable treatment panel is available based on condition type include medicamentous therapy, rehabilitation program, dynamic and static procedures surgical procedures, having as primary aim functional restoration achieving aesthetic balanced facial features. This paper summarizes current knowledge in facial paralysis reconstruction and presents an algorithmic approach that eases decision making and therapeutic strategy.