The Impact of Dedicated Research Years During Residency Upon Continued Academic Productivity of Plastic Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the impact of dedicated research year(s) on long-term research productivity and career choices of plastic surgeons as academicians. METHODS: Scopus and Web of Science were accessed in September 2020 to collate publications and H indexes of alumni who graduated from integrated plastic surgery residency programs from 2011 to 2020. Public profiles were utilized to determine academic status. Corresponding data were grouped by residency program type (traditional programs without required research, programs with one required research year, and a single program with variable research years). Unpaired t tests and 1-way analysis of variance were conducted to compare average H indexes and publication counts of alumni from each group. χ 2 tests analyzed differences in academic statuses. RESULTS: Alumni who completed one required research year published significantly more with a higher H index compared with those from traditional programs. Similar results were found among alumni who completed 2 research years compared with 0 or 1 year within a single program. Residents who completed one required research year were more likely to hold dual academic and nonacademic positions after graduation compared with their traditional counterparts. However, there was no statistical difference in academic status observed for surgeons who graduated from the program with variable research years. CONCLUSIONS: Participating in research year(s) during residency is predictive of ongoing academic productivity of surgeons within the first 10 years of completion of residency. This becomes important for training craniofacial surgeons, the majority of whom practice in academic settings.

Competency-Based Education: Will This be the New Training Paradigm in Plastic Surgery?

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education created the "Next Accreditation System" in 2013 requiring residents to meet educational milestones based on core competencies over the course of their training. The 6 core competencies include patient care and technical skills, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. Since the traditional time-based model requires a predetermined length of training irrespective of learning style, pace, or activity, a competency-based model is appealing because it refocuses education on deliberate and relevant skills acquisition and retention. Plastic surgery has been slowly transitioning to competency-based education (CBE), thereby permitting residents to learn at their own pace to master each competency. We performed a nonsystematic literature review of the efficacy of CBE and implementation efforts, particularly within plastic surgery. The literature revealed perceived barriers to implementation, as well as the nuts and bolts of implementation. We highlighted possible solutions and training tools with practical applications in plastic surgery. Success of CBE in plastic surgery requires instituting a transparent process that involves continuously piloting multiple assessment tools and a discussion of related costs. CBE may be particularly appealing for trainees focused on further training in craniofacial or pediatric plastic surgery after completion of an integrated or independent training program in plastic surgery to allow them to focus on their career interests once competence is achieved in the core skills required of a plastic surgeon.

Racial Disparities Following Reconstructive Flap Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Prior reports have highlighted disparities in healthcare access, environmental conditions, and food insecurity between Black and White populations in the United States. However, limited studies have explored racial disparities in postoperative complications, particularly reconstructive flap surgeries. METHODS: Cases of flap reconstruction based on named vascular pedicles were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and grouped into 3 time periods: 2005 to 2009, 2010 to 2014, and 2015 to 2019. Logistic regression was used to compare rates of postoperative complications between White and Black patients within each time period while controlling for comorbidities. Data for flap failure was only available from 2005 to 2010. RESULTS: A total of 56,116 patients were included in the study, and 6293 (11.2%) were Black. Black patients were significantly younger than White patients and had increased rates of hypertension, smoking, and diabetes across all years ( P <0.01). Black patients had significantly higher rates of sepsis compared to White patients in all time periods. From 2005 to 2009, Black patients had a significantly higher incidence of flap failure (aOR=2.58, P <0.01), return to the operating room (aOR=1.53, P =0.01), and having any complication (aOR=1.48, P <0.01). From 2010 to 2019, White patients had a higher incidence of superficial surgical site infection. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical complication rates following flap reconstruction based on a named vascular pedicle were higher for Black patients. Limited data on this topic currently exists, indicating that additional research on the drivers of racial disparities is warranted to improve plastic surgery outcomes in Black patients.

Changes in Subspecialty Interest of Plastic Surgery Residents With Progression of Training: Impact on Academic Attrition.

BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery residency applicants often express interest in academic subspecialties, but only a small percentage of graduating residents pursue academic careers. Identifying reasons for academic attrition may help training programs address this discrepancy. METHODS: A survey was sent to plastic surgery residents through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Resident Council to assess interest in 6 plastic surgery subspecialties during junior and senior years of training. If a resident changed their subspecialty interest, the reasons for change were recorded. The importance of different career incentives over time were analyzed with paired t tests. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-six plastic surgery residents of 593 potential respondents (46.5% response rate) completed the survey. Of 150 senior residents, 60 residents reported changing interests from their junior to senior years. Craniofacial and microsurgery were identified as the specialties with the highest attrition of interest, while interest in esthetic, gender-affirmation, and hand surgery increased. For residents who left craniofacial and microsurgery, the desire for higher compensation, to work in private practice, and the desire for improved job opportunities significantly increased. The desire for improved work/life balance was a prominent reason for subspecialty change among senior residents who changed to esthetic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Plastic surgery subspecialties associated with academia, such as craniofacial surgery, suffer from resident attrition due to a variety of factors. Increased retention of trainees in craniofacial surgery, microsurgery, and academia could be improved through dedicated mentorship, improved job opportunities, and advocacy for fair reimbursement.

The Quality and Readability of Online Patient Information on Positional Head Shape Conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Families increasingly use online resources to acquire medical information about their child's condition with little understanding of the legitimacy of the source of information or of the information itself. We evaluate the quality and readability of online information related to positional head shape conditions and identify unmet needs for healthcare providers to improve online patient education. DESIGN: The search terms "flat head baby," "brachycephaly," and "plagiocephaly" were queried on the Google search engine and the first 20 websites for each were reviewed. Included websites were evaluated for quality using the DISCERN Instrument and readability using the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES). Websites were categorized by upload source and results were compared using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: 38 websites met inclusion criteria. There was no significant correlation between DISCERN score and Google search rank between the three search terms. Professional organizations provided websites with the highest mean DISCERN score (56.3) and commercial websites with the lowest score (36.6, P = .003), indicating "good" and "poor" quality content, respectively. Readability assessments showed an overall average FKGL of 9.9 and FRES of 54.4, suggesting "fairly difficult". Hospitals provided the most website results and tended to publish lower quality information, yet are the most readable. CONCLUSIONS: High quality websites written at an appropriate reading level for the general public are lacking. A review of online resources for positional head shape conditions can be used to derive recommendations to improve the content of online patient education for pediatric healthcare.

Biological Cover Mitigates Disruption of the Dermal Structure in Mechanically Expanded Skin in a Porcine Model.

Tissue expansion is an integral procedure of the vast majority of breast reconstruction and has a significant impact on the final clinical outcomes. Therefore, technological advances leading to a fewer number of unfavorable outcomes and a decrease in complication rates are imperative. In this study, using a porcine model, we investigated an effect of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) used as a tissue expander cover on the dermal changes induced by mechanical forces during tissue expansion. After 14 days of expansion, skin samples were collected from one animal, while the second animal underwent radiation, and tissue was collected 8 weeks later. Tissue expanded without the use of ADM and unexpanded skin served as the controls. Collected skin biopsies were used for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation, and for gene expression analysis. We revealed that the biological cover incorporation into host tissue is facilitated by macrophages without inducing a broad inflammatory response. The utilization of ADM mitigated disruption in the dermal structure, excessive collagen deposition, and capsule formation in non-irradiated expanded skin. The protective effect was not fully maintained in irradiated skin. These results demonstrate that tissue expansion might be improved by using the tissue expander cover.

Depressor Anguli Oris Function in Oral Macrostomia.

ABSTRACT: Unilateral oral macrostomia can present in isolation or conjunction with other craniofacial abnormalities. Common associations include cartilaginous tags and accessory tragi, while the facial nerve is rarely involved. Our work is the first of its kind to report depressor anguli oris paralysis in the setting of oral macrostomia. The authors present 2 cases of unilateral oral macrostomia, with and without contralateral pre-operative depressor anguli oris paralysis, to highlight this often overlooked finding. Furthermore, these cases illustrate the impact of depressor anguli oris paralysis on postoperative outcomes and patient expectations. Depressor anguli oris function can be detected preoperatively and therefore should be weaved into surgical decision-making and used to manage expectations for symmetric facial animation following repair. Further work is required to evaluate the long-term benefits of electromyography and botulinum toxin injections as diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for DAO paralysis.

Evidence-Based Practices in Cleft Palate Surgery.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: (1) Understand the embryologic origins, cause, and incidence of cleft palate. (2) Review the anatomy and common classifications of cleft palate and associated defects. (3) Describe surgical techniques for palatoplasty and understand their respective indications. (4) Gain an awareness of general perioperative care considerations, timing of repair, and risk factors for and operative mitigation of complications. SUMMARY: Cleft palate affects 0.1 to 1.1 per 1000 births, with a higher incidence in certain ethnic groups but affecting both sexes equally. Cleft palate may occur in isolation or in combination with cleft lip or in association with other congenital anomalies including various syndromes. The goals of cleft palate repair are to anatomically separate the oral and nasal cavities for normal feeding and improved speech and minimize the risk of oronasal fistulas, velopharyngeal dysfunction, and disruption of facial growth. This review discusses the incidence, causes, and classification of cleft palate; surgical techniques for palatoplasty and perioperative patient management; and complications of palatoplasty.

Acellular Dermal Matrix Cover Improves Skin Growth during Tissue Expansion by Affecting Distribution of Mechanical Forces.

BACKGROUND: Biological cover over tissue expander prostheses has been introduced to provide soft-tissue support for tissue expanders during breast reconstruction. However, its impact on mechanically induced skin growth remains unknown. This study investigates the hypothesis that covering the tissue expander with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) affects mechanotransduction without compromising the efficacy of tissue expansion. METHODS: Tissue expansion, with and without use of ADM, was performed on a porcine model. The tissue expanders were inflated twice with 45 mL of saline, and the full-thickness skin biopsy specimens were harvested from expanded and control unexpanded skin 1 week and 8 weeks after the final inflation. Histologic evaluation, immunohistochemistry staining, and gene expression analysis were performed. Skin growth and total deformation were evaluated using isogeometric analysis. RESULTS: The authors' results demonstrate that use of ADM as a biological cover during tissue expansion does not impede mechanotransduction that leads to skin growth and blood vessel formation. Isogeometric analysis revealed similar total deformation and growth of expanded skin with and without a biological cover, confirming that its use does not inhibit mechanically induced skin growth. In addition, the authors found that use of an ADM cover results in more uniform distribution of mechanical forces applied by the tissue expander. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ADM improves mechanically induced skin growth during tissue expansion by facilitating a more uniform distribution of mechanical forces applied by the tissue expander. Therefore, the use of a biological cover has potential to improve outcomes in tissue expansion-based reconstruction.

Evidence-Based Practices in Facial Reanimation Surgery.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe the causes and preoperative evaluation of facial paralysis. 2. Discuss techniques to restore corneal sensation and eyelid closure, elevation of the upper lip for smile, and depression of the lower lip for lip symmetry. 3. Outline treatment goals, surgical treatment options, timing of repair, and other patient-specific considerations in appropriate technique selection. SUMMARY: Congenital facial paralysis affects 2.7 per 100,000 children; Bell palsy affects 23 per 100,000 people annually; and even more people are affected when considering all other causes. Conditions that impair facial mimetics impact patients' social functioning and emotional well-being. Dynamic and static reconstructive methods may be used individually or in concert to achieve adequate blink restoration, smile strength and spontaneity, and lower lip depression. Timing of injury and repair, patient characteristics such as age, and cause of facial paralysis are all considered in selecting the most appropriate reconstructive approach. This article describes evidence-based management of facial paralysis.

Practice Patterns in Primary Breast Augmentation: A 16-Year Review of Continuous Certification Tracer Data from the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: As part of the continuous certification process, the American Board of Plastic Surgery collects case data for specific tracer procedures in aesthetic surgery to assess practice improvement by the diplomates. These case-based data provide valuable information on national trends in clinical practice. The current study was performed to analyze practice patterns in aesthetic primary breast augmentation. METHODS: Breast augmentation tracer data were reviewed from 2005 to 2021 and grouped into an early cohort (EC), from 2005 through 2014, and a recent cohort (RC), from 2015 through 2021. Fisher exact tests and two-sample t tests compared demographic characteristics of the patients, surgical techniques, and complication rates. RESULTS: Patients in the RC were slightly older (34 versus 35 years; P < 0.001), more likely to have ptosis greater than 22 cm (20% versus 23%; P < 0.0001), less likely to smoke (12% versus 8%; P < 0.0001), and less likely to undergo a preoperative mammogram (29% versus 24%; P < 0.0001). From a technical standpoint, inframammary incisions have become more common (68% versus 80%; P < 0.0001), whereas periareolar incision use has decreased (24% versus 14%; P < 0.0001). Submuscular plane placement has increased (22% versus 56%; P < 0.0001), while subglandular placement has decreased (19% versus 7%; P < 0.0001). Silicone implants are most popular (58% versus 82%; P < 0.0001). Textured implant use increased from 2011 (2%) to 2016 (16%), followed by a sharp decline to 0% by 2021. Trends follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals and warnings. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights evolving trends in aesthetic breast augmentation over the past 16 years. The most common technique remains a smooth silicone prosthesis placed in the subpectoral plane through an inframammary incision.

Genital Self-Image and Esthetic Genital Surgery.

Genital self-image describes the perception of one's genital appearance as being "normal" or "abnormal," and a disharmonious image leads to an increasing number of women seeking esthetic genital surgery each year. The concept of what constitutes "normal" is strongly influenced by the media, cultural norms, and sexual relations. In reality, the extent of normalcy is highly variable and overall patient education regarding extremes of size and shape should be provided to all patients considering surgery. When performed with appropriate training, expertise, and attention to detail in a properly selected patient, esthetic genital surgery is associated with minimal complications or sequelae.

The financial implications of telemedicine practice patterns across pediatric surgical specialties.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine has played an increasingly important role in surgical care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, yet little is known about its usage and correlation to cost both within and across surgical specialties during the pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: We collected data on telehealth encounters from April 2020 to June 2021 for all surgical specialties at a pediatric academic institution. The percent of total encounters that were telemedicine vs. in-person were analyzed over time. Data on charge and reimbursement were averaged for each encounter type, and the percent difference in average charge and reimbursement was calculated and compared between surgical specialties. RESULTS: Of the 147,007 surgical clinical visits identified, 6,566 encounters (4.5%) were telemedicine. Usage peaked in April and plateaued in June of 2020. The specialties with the highest total percentages of telemedicine visits were neurosurgery (23.2%) and cardiovascular-thoracic (11.9%). Orthopedics reported the lowest usage at 2%. Charges for in-person encounters were higher for nearly all specialties while reimbursements remained equal. CONCLUSION: Our institutional trends reveal that conversion to telemedicine varied across surgical specialty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Charges for in-person encounters were higher than telehealth ones for nearly all specialties, but the reimbursements were fairly the same. Understanding trends in telemedicine volume instigated by and following the pandemic may better prepare pediatric institutions to navigate the accelerated adoption and influence policy changes. This is particularly relevant given the fluctuating impact of the pandemic on healthcare institutions as new strains of COVID-19 emerge. EVIDENCE LEVEL: Level V.

Improving Medical Student Recruitment into Plastic Surgery: A Survey of Orphaned Medical Students.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to measure the concerns of students whose medical schools do not have a plastic surgery training program to help educators better understand their perspectives. This is essential to improve plastic surgery education for almost 50% of students in the United States at institutions without a residency program. DESIGN: An anonymous survey was distributed to the clerkship directors of the applicable medical schools. They were then asked to forward this survey to their student body. The survey was divided as follows: demographics; exposure to plastic surgery; mentorship; suggestions for improvement; perceived impact on matching. RESULTS: We received 265 responses from 16 unique institutions. About 38% consider themselves underrepresented in medicine. The most common initial professional exposure to plastic surgery was shadowing (20%). About 10% reported exposure to plastic surgery in their school curriculum. About 51% reported having no professional exposure to plastic surgery. About 89% did not identify a mentor. All students applying to away rotations reported difficulties facilitating these sub-internships. About 64% felt extremely concerned about matching. CONCLUSIONS: Students from schools without plastic surgery training programs are at a disadvantage. The academic community needs to support these students to achieve a more diverse field. All students should be given an introduction to plastic surgery as part of their curriculum, and they should be encouraged to explore a career in plastic surgery as a realistic option. If 1 perceives themselves as non-competitive due to institutional shortcomings, this will translate into a non-competitive applicant and discourage our specialty's serious pursuit by almost half the country's medical students.

Routes to Residency: A National Survey Demonstrating the Pathways to Become a Plastic Surgeon.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) residency training can be completed through multiple pathways. Current residents' experiences regarding these different routes have not been previously described. The objective of the present study was to describe the educational pathways taken by current PRS residents in the United States. We hypothesized that there would be a small cohort of current PRS residents who were initially unsuccessful in matching into an integrated residency. METHODS: An online survey was sent to PRS residents across all training years from October 2020 to January 2021. The survey collected information about residents' match history, experience after not matching, and narrative comments on their route to residency. Public match data from the past 20 years (2001-2021) were also summarized with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four residents responded (response rate 15%; 174/1158). Of these, 133 applied to integrated programs as senior medical students, and 15 (11%) did not match after applying as a senior medical student. Unmatched applicants took multiple different routes to PRS, including participating in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, reapplying, transferring after some general surgery training, and completing an independent PRS residency. Three-fourths (76%) of independent program residents did not originally apply to the integrated match. CONCLUSIONS: An initial unsuccessful match result does not portend that one will not be able to train for a career in PRS. Our findings illustrate the potential routes to successful completion of PRS residency training, both for unmatched applicants and residents who develop later interest in PRS.

Secondary Cleft Rhinoplasty: A National Survey of Surgical Practice by Accredited Cleft Palate Teams.

Patients with cleft lip often undergo a primary rhinoplasty at the time of lip repair, and further surgical correction with secondary cleft rhinoplasty (SCR) is often warranted for improved form and function. The purpose of this study was to better elucidate current practice patterns and trends for how SCR is performed in the United States. Methods: We administered a survey to team surgeons affiliated with cleft lip and palate care teams approved by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Results: We received responses from 40 ACPA-approved teams for a response rate of 20.7%, with 59 total ACPA team surgeons completing the survey. 88.1% of surgeons perform intermediate cleft rhinoplasties. Among those who perform an intermediate cleft rhinoplasty, the mean age at which they would first consider the procedure is 5.83±2.66 years. The mean age for consideration of definitive cleft rhinoplasty was 15.86 ± 1.73 years. In both unilateral and bilateral cleft lips, a closed approach was more common in intermediate rhinoplasty, while an open approach was more common in definitive rhinoplasty (P < 0.001). The use of autologous grafts was more common in definitive rhinoplasty (P < 0.001), with 65% of respondents utilizing autologous grafts in greater than three-quarters of their procedures. Conclusions: When comparing intermediate with definitive cleft rhinoplasty, we found significant increase in the use of open techniques, autologous cartilage use for augmentation of the nasal tip, dorsal nasal support, and columellar sup- port. The considerable variability among surgeons highlights the lack of consensus regarding SCR.

How Important Are Dedicated Research Years and Global Health to Applicants in Plastic Surgery?

Applicant preferences for required research and global surgery experiences during plastic surgery training have not been previously studied. Methods: An anonymous survey was sent to integrated plastic surgery applicants from consecutive residency application cycles (2018-2020). Research and global health experiences before residency were elicited, along with the interest to continue these activities. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions and chi-square test of independence. Results: Seventy-eight former plastic surgery applicants responded to the survey (15.7% response rate). Most participants (65%) viewed time for research as important when evaluating residency programs. Fewer respondents (10%) ranked programs with a required research year higher, whereas 47% ranked those programs lower and 43% did not factor it into their decision-making. Less than one-third of respondents (28%) reported prior global health experience, yet 44% viewed international opportunities as an important factor when ranking programs, and the majority (72%) stated plans to participate in global surgery during residency. Past experience on a global health trip predicted a strong preference for longer rotations (P = 0.003) and willingness to use vacation time to participate during residency (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Research was an important consideration in residency selection, but a few preferred a residency program with a dedicated research year. Although applicants had limited experience with global surgery, the majority intended to get involved during residency. Understanding factors that influence applicants' interests in residency programs may better equip programs with information to create enriching experiences and attract the most qualified applicants.

Do Dedicated Research Years during Medical School Predict Academic Productivity during Residency?

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding whether medical school research portends resident research is limited. This information will provide program directors with data that may be useful for selecting applicants with a commitment to continued academic productivity. METHODS: A questionnaire distributed via the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Resident Council to residents in 44 plastic surgery training programs in May 2020 assessed participation in dedicated research years during medical school, the number of publications completed before residency, and the total number of publications by each resident at the time of the survey. One-way ANOVA and post hoc analysis determined significant associations between publication count and number of research years. RESULTS: Of the 256 included respondents, 203 did not complete a research year during medical school, 44 completed 1 research year, and nine completed 2 research years. Mean publications before residency were higher for participants who took 1 or 2 research years (9.88 and 27.60, respectively) compared with those who did not (4.83, P < 0.001). A comparison of total publications during residency similarly revealed increased productivity by individuals who took 1 or more research years; however, there was no difference between the number of publications completed during residency for individuals who took 1 versus 2 years (P = 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Residents with research experience during medical school continue to produce an increased number of publications during residency compared with those without, suggesting dedicated research years taken during medical school serve as a predictor of academic productivity in plastic surgery residents.