The Potential of Chat-Based Artificial Intelligence Models in Differentiating Between Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Lasting scars such as keloids and hypertrophic scars adversely affect a patient's quality of life. However, these scars are frequently underdiagnosed because of the complexity of the current diagnostic criteria and classification systems. This study aimed to explore the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT in diagnosing scar conditions and to propose a more accessible and straightforward diagnostic approach. METHODS: In this study, five artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, including ChatGPT-4 (GPT-4), Bing Chat (Precise, Balanced, and Creative modes), and Bard, were evaluated for their ability to interpret clinical scar images using a standardized set of prompts. Thirty mock images of various scar types were analyzed, and each chatbot was queried five times to assess the diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: GPT-4 had a significantly higher accuracy rate in diagnosing scars than Bing Chat. The overall accuracy rates of GPT-4 and Bing Chat were 36.0% and 22.0%, respectively (P = 0.027), with GPT-4 showing better performance in terms of specificity for keloids (0.6 vs. 0.006) and hypertrophic scars (0.72 vs. 0.0) than Bing Chat. CONCLUSIONS: Although currently available LLMs show potential for use in scar diagnostics, the current technology is still under development and is not yet sufficient for clinical application standards, highlighting the need for further advancements in AI for more accurate medical diagnostics. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online instructions to authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Performance of ChatGPT in Answering Clinical Questions on the Practical Guideline of Blepharoptosis.

BACKGROUND: ChatGPT is a free artificial intelligence (AI) language model developed and released by OpenAI in late 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of ChatGPT to accurately answer clinical questions (CQs) on the Guideline for the Management of Blepharoptosis published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in 2022. METHODS: CQs in the guideline were used as question sources in both English and Japanese. For each question, ChatGPT provided answers for CQs, evidence quality, recommendation strength, reference match, and answered word counts. We compared the performance of ChatGPT in each component between English and Japanese queries. RESULTS: A total of 11 questions were included in the final analysis, and ChatGPT answered 61.3% of these correctly. ChatGPT demonstrated a higher accuracy rate in English answers for CQs compared to Japanese answers for CQs (76.4% versus 46.4%; p = 0.004) and word counts (123 words versus 35.9 words; p = 0.004). No statistical differences were noted for evidence quality, recommendation strength, and reference match. A total of 697 references were proposed, but only 216 of them (31.0%) existed. CONCLUSIONS: ChatGPT demonstrates potential as an adjunctive tool in the management of blepharoptosis. However, it is crucial to recognize that the existing AI model has distinct limitations, and its primary role should be to complement the expertise of medical professionals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: Observational study under respected authorities. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Advancement of Generative Pre-trained Transformer Chatbots in Answering Clinical Questions in the Practical Rhinoplasty Guideline.

BACKGROUND: The Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) series, which includes ChatGPT, is an artificial large language model that provides human-like text dialogue. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence chatbots in answering clinical questions based on practical rhinoplasty guidelines. METHODS: Clinical questions (CQs) developed from the guidelines were used as question sources. For each question, we asked GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 (ChatGPT), developed by OpenAI, to provide answers for the CQs, Policy Level, Aggregate Evidence Quality, Level of Confidence in Evidence, and References. We compared the performance of the two types of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. RESULTS: A total of 10 questions were included in the final analysis, and the AI chatbots correctly answered 90.0% of these. GPT-4 demonstrated a lower accuracy rate than GPT-3.5 in answering CQs, although without statistically significant difference (86.0% vs. 94.0%; p = 0.05), whereas GPT-4 showed significantly higher accuracy for the level of confidence in Evidence than GPT-3.5 (52.0% vs. 28.0%; p < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed in Policy Level, Aggregate Evidence Quality, and Reference Match. In addition, GPT-4 rated significantly higher in presenting existing references than GPT-3.5 (36.9% vs. 24.1%; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The overall performance of GPT-4 was similar to that of GPT-3.5. However, GPT-4 provided existing references at a higher rate than GPT-3.5. GPT-4 has the potential to provide a more accurate reference in professional fields, including rhinoplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Artery first and declamp it: A temporary revascularization method during microvascular anastomosis: A retrospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal sequence of microvascular clamping during free flap transfer is yet to be established. Many surgeons are reluctant to perform temporary declamping and subsequent reclamping during microvascular anastomosis; however, we generally anastomose the artery first and temporarily declamp it before performing venous anastomosis to confirm arterial patency and ensure proper alignment of the flap veins. Herein, we aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy and safety of this temporary revascularization method in 126 patients who underwent microvascular head and neck reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 127 free flaps were transferred, with the anterolateral thigh flap (49 flaps) being the most frequently used. The internal jugular vein was the most frequently used recipient vein and end-to-side anastomoses to it were performed in 112 patients. RESULTS: Intraoperative reanastomosis was required because of arterial thrombosis in 5 cases (4.0%), arterial and venous thrombosis in 1 case (0.8%), injury to the flap artery distal to the anastomotic site in 1 case (0.8%), and venous twisting in 1 case (0.8%). Postoperatively, all the flaps survived without microvascular compromise. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular kinking or twisting of the vascular pedicle is a major cause of free flap failure. However, it is difficult to place empty vessels accurately during clamping. Nonetheless, temporary revascularization engorges the flap vein before venous anastomosis and minimizes the risk of venous kinking and twisting. According to our results, reclamping did not increase the risk of arterial thrombosis.

Dual-plane lift-and-hold technique for brow ptosis in young patients with facial paralysis.

BACKGROUND: Direct browlift is useful but leaves a scar above the brow. We proposed a dual-plane browlift to avoid facial scarring while effectively resolving brow ptosis in young and young adult patients. METHODS: Seven patients with facial palsy underwent dual-plane browlift between July 2018 and June 2022. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 31.9 months. Skin resection at the hairline was combined with subcutaneous dissection down to the inferior margin of the brow to "lift" the brow. Fascia lata strips were fixed to the dermis just inferior to the eyebrow to "hold" the brow, and the strips were suspended upward through the subperiosteal tunnel and fixed to the periosteum. Brow height was compared before and after the procedure and with the contralateral side. RESULTS: The reported complications included slight hematoma at the recipient site, temporary difficulty in closing the eye, and seroma at the fascia donor site. The paralyzed side showed significant differences between the preoperative period and postoperative months (POM) 3, 6, and 12, but differences were not shown in the intervals between POM 3 and 6, 6 and 12, or 3 and 12. The difference in eyebrow height between the paralyzed and nonparalyzed sides was significant preoperatively but not at POM 3, 6, or 12. All scars matured well, and the fascia silhouette was not visible in the forehead region. CONCLUSIONS: Dual-plane browlift enables rigid suspension using the fascia lata and excises flaccid skin without leaving facial scars, yielding excellent cosmetic quality and stable long-term outcomes.

Clinical assessment of early mobilization after head and neck free flap reconstruction: A retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: We examined whether there were any differences in perioperative complications between patients who mobilized on the first postoperative day (early mobilization) and those who mobilized on the second postoperative day after head and neck reconstruction using free tissue transfer. METHODS: In the control group (n = 74), patients were instructed to mobilize on the second postoperative day (April 2019-March 2020), while in the early mobilization group (n = 101), patients were instructed to mobilize on the first postoperative day (April 2020-March 2021). Mobilization was defined as maintaining a standing position or walking. Clinical data were collected from medical records and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical background factors, with the exception of intraoperative blood loss volume. The proportion of patients who successfully mobilized on the day of instruction was significantly lower in the early mobilization group (89.1% vs. 98.7%). One case of total flap loss and four cases of partial flap loss occurred in the control group, and three cases of partial flap loss occurred in the early mobilization group. There was no significant difference in partial or total flap loss between the two groups. There were no significant differences in other perioperative complications (wound infection, postoperative bleeding, and delirium) between the two groups. The median postoperative hospital stay was 24.5 and 25.0 days in the control and early mobilization groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, early mobilization on the first day after head and neck free flap reconstruction was safe and feasible.