An Evaluation of Racial Disparities in Online Marketing of Academic Plastic Surgery Practices.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities in plastic surgery limit health care accessibility and quality. The aim of this study is to determine if racial disparities exist within patient-targeted advertising materials on academic plastic surgery practice (APSP) Web sites and if disparities are more pronounced in specific categories within plastic surgery. METHODS: Throughout May 2021, 3 independent reviewers analyzed the Web sites for APSPs and identified all photos, videos, and graphics with visible skin. For each image, the Fitzpatrick skin tone scale was used to classify the skin tone as "White" (I-III) or "non-White" (IV-VI). The images were further categorized based on the type of procedure depicted. Comparisons were made to publish US census data using χ 2 tests and linear mixed effects models. RESULTS: In total, 4615 images were analyzed from 100 APSP Web sites. Seven hundred eighty (16.9%) portrayed non-White skin tone, which was significantly less than expected based on US census data (23.7% non-White race) ( P < 0.001). Online representation had the starkest disparity in hand surgery (8.65% non-White) and adult craniofacial (9.74% non-White). The only categories that showed no significant difference between representation and demographics included implant-based breast reconstruction ( P = 0.32) and pediatric craniofacial ( P = 0.93). Overall, the marketing materials demonstrated significantly lower representation of non-White skin compared with the census demographics by an absolute difference of -4.71% ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Non-White patients are significantly underrepresented in advertising materials published by APSPs, indicating systemic racial biases. Patient-targeted advertising can be improved to promote equality in representation for patients seeking plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Analysis of Readmissions and Reoperations in Pediatric Microvascular Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Free tissue transfer is utilized as a reconstructive option for various anatomic defects. While it has long been performed in adults, reconstructive surgeons have used free tissue transfer to a lesser degree in children. As such, there are few analyses of factors associated with complications in free tissue transfer within this population. The aim of this study is to assess factors associated with readmission and reoperation in pediatric free flap patients utilizing the pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. METHODS: Pediatric patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction between 2015 and 2020 were included. Patients were identified by five microvascular reconstruction Current Procedural Terminology codes and were then stratified by flap site (head and neck, extremities, trunk) and defect etiology (congenital, trauma, infection, neoplasm). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with readmissions and reoperations. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 258 patients. The average age was 10.0 ± 4.7 years and the majority of patients were male (n = 149, 57.8%), were of white race (n = 164, 63.6%), and had a normal body mass index. Twenty-two patients (8.5%) experienced an unplanned readmission within 30 days of the initial operation, most commonly for wound disruption (31.8% of readmissions). The overall rate of unplanned reoperation within 30 days was 11.6% (n = 30) for all patients, with an average of 8.9 ± 7.5 days to reoperation. On multivariate regression analysis, each hour increase in operative time was associated with an increased odds of reoperation (odds ratio [OR]: 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12, 1.45) and readmission (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.34). CONCLUSION: In pediatric patients undergoing free tissue transfer, higher readmission and reoperation risk was associated with longer operative duration. Overall, free tissue transfer is safe in the pediatric population with relatively low rates of readmission and reoperation.

A New Source of Mutilating Hand Injuries: The Side-by-Side Utility Terrain Vehicle.

BACKGROUND: Rates of mutilating hand injuries are increasing from accidents caused by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the recently popularized side-by-side utility terrain vehicles (UTVs). Increasing surgeon familiarity with upper extremity (UE) injury patterns, severity, and outcomes following ATV and UTV accidents may improve patient care and advocacy. METHODS: Retrospective comparisons of UE injury patterns, severity, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission lengths, and number of operations were made between ATVs and UTVs. Findings were analyzed with Fisher exact tests, multivariate analysis of variance, analyses of variance with post hoc analyses, and multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: A total of 154 cases were identified for inclusion (ATV, n = 87; UTV, n = 67). Patient ages ranged from 4 to 89 years. The UTV group contained significantly more hand and finger injuries, and more of the fractures were open ( P = 0.005, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Riders of UTVs had nearly three times as many mutilating hand injuries and a nearly ninefold increase in amputations compared with ATV riders ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). On average, the UTV group spent 2.5 additional days in the hospital, 0.91 additional days in an ICU, and had 1.3 additional operations ( P = 0.001, P = 0.007, and P < 0.001, respectively). Vehicle type was the only variable significantly correlated with days in the hospital, ICU, and number of UE operations ( P = 0.002, P = 0.008, and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hand surgeons are in a unique position to serve as forerunners for increasing public awareness of off-road vehicle risks and promoting rider safety. Collaborating with manufacturers and emergency care providers and directing teaching initiatives may improve patient outcomes. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, II.

An Evaluation of Early Complications after Prepectoral Tissue Expander Placement in First-Stage Breast Reconstruction with and without Acellular Dermal Matrix.

PURPOSE: Prepectoral breast reconstruction has become popularized with the concurrent use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM). We sought to compare three-month postoperative complication rates and explantation rates for first stage, tissue expander based prepectoral breast reconstruction with and without the use of ADM. METHODS: A single institution retrospective chart review was performed to identify consecutive patients undergoing prepectoral tissue-expander based breast reconstruction from August 2020 to January 2022. Chi-squared tests were used to compare demographic categorical variables and multiple variable regression models were used to identify variables associated with three-month postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: We enrolled 124 consecutive patients. Fifty-five patients (98 breasts) were included in the no-ADM cohort and 69 patients (98 breasts) were included in the ADM cohort. There were no statistically significant differences between ADM and no-ADM cohort in regard to 90-day postoperative outcomes. On multivariable analysis, there were no independent associations between seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence, mastectomy skin flap necrosis, infection, unplanned return to the OR, or explanation in the ADM or no ADM groups after controlling for age, BMI, history of diabetes, tobacco use, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and postoperative radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal no significant differences in odds of postoperative complications, unplanned return to the OR, or explantation between ADM and no-ADM cohorts. More studies are needed to evaluate the safety of prepectoral, tissue expander placement without ADM.