When looking at the successful outcome of postburn surgical functional reconstruction which of the following do you think is the most critical determinant of the final result?
A. The expertise and experience of the reconstructive burns surgeonThe motivation and compliance of the patient (and/or parents). One can be an excellent surgeon but achieve poor outcomes if there is no program of postoperative rehabilitation. Equally, excellent surgeons with good postoperative rehabilitation teams can still have poor outcomes if patients are poorly motivated. In nearly every case of excellent functional outcome in the field of post-burn reconstruction you will find a highly motivated patient. The converse is also true and so patient selection is very important.