Level of Evidence of Abstract Presentations at Brazilian Plastic Surgery Annual Meetings.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to assess trends in the level of evidence of the abstracts presented at a major Brazilian plastic surgery annual meeting, and evaluate the factors associated with a higher level of evidence. METHODS: Abstracts (n = 400) presented at the 2010 to 2013 Brazilian Congresses of Plastic Surgery were analyzed for level of evidence (levels I-V). All abstracts were also classified into a higher (levels I and II) or lower (levels III, IV, and V) level of evidence. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied to evaluate the possible determinants (year, period, number of authors, number of subjects, plastic surgery topic, and presence of statistical analysis) of higher level of evidence. RESULTS: The weighted average level of evidence was 3.39, with a significant (all P <0.05) overall predominance in the proportion of level of evidence III and lower level of evidence. There was a significant (all P <0.05) increase in the proportion of level of evidence II and higher level of evidence in the evaluated years and periods. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the year 2013, period 2012 to 2013, ≥6 authors/abstracts, and presence of statistical analysis to be the most significant (all P <0.05) predictive factors of higher level of evidence. CONCLUSION: Brazilian plastic surgery meeting abstracts demonstrated an overall predominance of lower level of evidence and a trend to increase the higher level of evidence, whereas the year 2013, period 2012 to 2013, ≥6 authors/abstracts, and the presence of statistical analysis were determinants of higher level of evidence.

Discrepancies Between Plastic Surgery Meeting Abstracts and Subsequent Full-Length Manuscript Publications.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this bibliometric study was to assess the discrepancies between plastic surgery meeting abstracts and subsequent full-length manuscript publications. METHODS: Abstracts presented at the Brazilian Congress of Plastic Surgery from 2010 to 2011 were compared with matching manuscript publications. Discrepancies between the abstract and the subsequent manuscript were categorized as major (changes in the purpose, methods, study design, sample size, statistical analysis, results, and conclusions) and minor (changes in the title and authorship) variations. RESULTS: The overall discrepancy rate was 96 %, with at least one major (76 %) and/or minor (96 %) variation. There were inconsistencies between the study title (56 %), authorship (92 %), purpose (6 %), methods (20 %), study design (36 %), sample size (51.2 %), statistical analysis (14 %), results (20 %), and conclusions (8 %) of manuscripts compared with their corresponding meeting abstracts. CONCLUSION: As changes occur before manuscript publication of plastic surgery meeting abstracts, caution should be exercised in referencing abstracts or altering surgical practices based on abstracts' content. 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 .

Public's Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation and Donation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this survey was to assess the public's knowledge and attitudes toward vascularized composite allotransplantation and donation. METHODS: Members of the public (n = 5942) were surveyed using a questionnaire that examined their knowledge and attitudes concerning solid organs (kidney, heart, liver, lung, and pancreas) and vascularized composite tissue (hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal wall, and face) transplantations and donations. RESULTS: Respondents demonstrated greater (all P < 0.05) knowledge and willingness to donate and/or receive solid organs than vascularized composite tissues. Educational level, accurate knowledge, willingness to donate, and willingness to receive were significant (all P < 0.05) determinants of acceptance to donate and/or receive hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, face, and/or abdominal wall. CONCLUSION: The public presented less knowledge and willingness to donate and/or receive hand/upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal wall, and face. 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.

The Public Recognizes Plastic Surgeons as Leading Experts in the Treatment of Congenital Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the public perception of plastic surgeons (PS) as craniofacial surgery specialists. METHODS: Members of the public (N = 1514) were asked to choose 1 or 2 specialists that they perceived to be an expert for 13 craniofacial surgery-related scenarios. Response patterns were distributed as "plastic surgeon alone" (PS alone), "PS combined with other specialists", or "no plastic surgeon" (No PS). Sociodemographic data, previous plastic surgery contact, and source of reported information were also collected. RESULTS: "Plastic surgeon alone" was significantly (all P < 0.05) more recognized as experts than all other response patterns particularly in congenital anomalies-related scenarios (83.33%). There was a significantly (all P < 0.05) poor understanding of the role of PSs in head/neck infection management, chronic facial palsy management, dental disease management, head and neck cancer surgery, vascular malformation surgery, and facial fracture surgery. Sex, age, education level, health care professional, prior plastic surgery contact, and source of reported information were not significant (all P < 0.05) determinants of "PS" as the response in bivariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Public recognized PSs as experts primarily in treatment of congenital cleft and craniofacial anomalies, but as the overall scope of craniofacial surgery practice was poorly understood and known, improved public education is needed.

Aesthetic Surgery Reality Television Shows: Do they Influence Public Perception of the Scope of Plastic Surgery?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this survey was to assess the influence of aesthetic surgery "reality television" shows viewing on the public's perception of the scope of plastic surgery practice. METHODS: Perceptions of the scope of plastic surgery (33 scenarios), aesthetic surgery "reality television" viewing patterns ("high," "moderate," or "low" familiarity, similarity, confidence, and influence viewers), sociodemographic data, and previous plastic surgery interaction were collected from 2148 members of the public. Response patterns were created and bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied to assess the possible determinants of overall public choice of plastic surgeons as experts in the plastic surgery-related scenarios. RESULTS: Both "plastic surgeons" and "plastic surgeons alone" were the main response patterns (all p < 0.05) in ten (83.3%) aesthetic interventions-related scenarios. "Plastic surgeons" and "plastic surgeons alone" were significantly (all p < 0.05) more identified as experts in ten (47.6%) and eight (38.1%) general/reconstructive-related scenarios, respectively. There were positive (health care professionals and prior plastic surgery interaction) and negative ("high-familiarity" viewers, "high-influence" viewers, "high-confidence" viewers, and "high-similarity" viewers) significant (all p < 0.05) determinants of response plastic surgeons in the bivariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Aesthetic surgery "reality television" viewing negatively influences the public perception of the broad scope of plastic surgery. 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.

Cutaneous Angiomyolipoma of the Ear: A Rare Diagnostic Challenge.

Cutaneous angiomyolipoma is an extremally rare mesenchymal tumor, distinct from its renal counterpart. We describe two patients with cutaneous angiomyolipoma of the earlobe, all of which were clinically misdiagnosed and mistreated as epidermoid cysts, to highlight the need to consider a broad spectrum of differential diagnoses when evaluating any nodular or cystic tumor of the ear. We also provide a comprehensive literature review about this cutaneous entity.

Conversion of Plastic Surgery meeting abstract presentations to full manuscripts: a brazilian perspective.

Objective: to assess the conversion rate of Plastic Surgery meeting abstract presentations to full manuscript publications and examine factors associated with this conversion. Methods: we assessed the abstracts presented at the 47th and 48th Brazilian Congresses of Plastic Surgery by cross-referencing with multiple databases. We analyzed the Abstracts' characteristics associated with full manuscript publications. Results: of the 200 abstracts presented, 50 abstracts were subsequently published in full, giving the conference a conversion rate of 25%. The mean time to publish was 15.00±13.75 months. In total, there were 4.93±1.63 authors per abstract and 67.8±163 subjects per abstract; 43.5% of the abstracts were of retrospective studies; 69% comprised the plastic surgery topics head and neck, and chest and trunk, and 88.5% had no statistical analysis. Overall, 80% of the manuscripts were published in plastic surgery journals, 76% had no impact factor and 52% had no citations. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed the presence of statistical analysis to be the most significant (p<0.05) predictive factor of conversion of abstracts into full manuscripts. Conclusion: the conversion rate found from this bibliometric research appeared a bit lower than the conversion trend of international plastic surgery meetings, and statistical analysis was a determinant of conversion success.

Objetivo: avaliar a taxa de conversão de resumos apresentados em congressos de Cirurgia Plástica em publicações de manuscritos completos e examinar fatores associados a essa conversão. Métodos: resumos apresentados nos XLVII e XLVIII Congressos Brasileiros de Cirurgia Plástica foram avaliados por meio de referências cruzadas em diversos bancos de dados. Averiguaram-se as características dos resumos associadas às publicações de manuscritos completos. Resultados: dos 200 resumos apresentados, 50 foram posteriormente publicados na íntegra, determinando uma taxa de publicação de 25%. O tempo médio para publicação foi 15,00±13,75 meses. No total, houve 4,93±1,63 autores/resumo e 67,8±163 pacientes/resumo; 43,5% dos resumos foram estudos retrospectivos; 69% pertenciam aos tópicos crânio, cabeça e pescoço, e tórax e tronco e 88,5% não apresentavam análise estatística. No geral, 80% dos manuscritos foram publicados em revistas de Cirurgia Plástica, 76% não exibiam fator de impacto e 52% não possuíam citações. As análises bivariada e multivariada revelaram que a presença de análise estatística foi o fator preditivo significativo (p<0,05) para a conversão de resumos em manuscritos completos. Conclusão: a taxa de conversão deste estudo bibliométrico foi inferior à tendência de conversão descrita em congressos internacionais de Cirurgia Plástica, e a presença de análise estatística foi um determinante para o sucesso de conversão.

Public Perceptions of Plastic Surgery Practice in Brazil.

The perception of medical specialists by the public has a significant effect on health-care decisions, research funding allocation, and implantation of educational measures. The purpose of this survey was to assess the public's perception of the field of plastic surgery practice. General public members (n = 1290) completed a survey where they matched nine specialties with 28 plastic surgery-related scenarios. Response patterns were distributed as "plastic surgeon alone," "plastic surgeon combined with other specialists," or "no plastic surgeon." Sociodemographic data and previous plastic surgery contact were also collected. "Plastic surgeon alone" was identified as an expert by more than 70 % of respondents in four (40 %) aesthetic-related scenarios and in one (5.5 %) general/reconstructive-related scenario. "Plastic surgeon alone" was significantly (all p < 0.05) more recognized as an expert than other response patterns in all aesthetic-related scenarios, except for botulinum toxin for facial wrinkles. There was a significant (all p < 0.05) poor understanding of the role of plastic surgeons in facial fracture surgery, facial paralysis management, chest wall surgery, hand surgery-related scenarios, and tumor surgery-related scenarios. Age, health-care professional, education level, and prior plastic surgery contact were significant (all p < 0.05) determinants of "plastic surgeon" as a response pattern, according to bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The public has a poor understanding of the broad field of plastic surgery practice. Therefore, improved public education about the scope of plastic surgery is needed.

Conversion of Plastic Surgery meeting abstract presentations to full manuscripts: a brazilian perspective / Conversão dos resumos apresentados em congressos de Cirurgia Plástica em manuscritos completos: uma perspectiva brasileira

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the conversion rate of Plastic Surgery meeting abstract presentations to full manuscript publications and examine factors associated with this conversion. Methods: we assessed the abstracts presented at the 47th and 48th Brazilian Congresses of Plastic Surgery by cross-referencing with multiple databases. We analyzed the Abstracts' characteristics associated with full manuscript publications. Results: of the 200 abstracts presented, 50 abstracts were subsequently published in full, giving the conference a conversion rate of 25%. The mean time to publish was 15.00±13.75 months. In total, there were 4.93±1.63 authors per abstract and 67.8±163 subjects per abstract; 43.5% of the abstracts were of retrospective studies; 69% comprised the plastic surgery topics head and neck, and chest and trunk, and 88.5% had no statistical analysis. Overall, 80% of the manuscripts were published in plastic surgery journals, 76% had no impact factor and 52% had no citations. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed the presence of statistical analysis to be the most significant (p<0.05) predictive factor of conversion of abstracts into full manuscripts. Conclusion: the conversion rate found from this bibliometric research appeared a bit lower than the conversion trend of international plastic surgery meetings, and statistical analysis was a determinant of conversion success.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a taxa de conversão de resumos apresentados em congressos de Cirurgia Plástica em publicações de manuscritos completos e examinar fatores associados a essa conversão. Métodos: resumos apresentados nos XLVII e XLVIII Congressos Brasileiros de Cirurgia Plástica foram avaliados por meio de referências cruzadas em diversos bancos de dados. Averiguaram-se as características dos resumos associadas às publicações de manuscritos completos. Resultados: dos 200 resumos apresentados, 50 foram posteriormente publicados na íntegra, determinando uma taxa de publicação de 25%. O tempo médio para publicação foi 15,00±13,75 meses. No total, houve 4,93±1,63 autores/resumo e 67,8±163 pacientes/resumo; 43,5% dos resumos foram estudos retrospectivos; 69% pertenciam aos tópicos crânio, cabeça e pescoço, e tórax e tronco e 88,5% não apresentavam análise estatística. No geral, 80% dos manuscritos foram publicados em revistas de Cirurgia Plástica, 76% não exibiam fator de impacto e 52% não possuíam citações. As análises bivariada e multivariada revelaram que a presença de análise estatística foi o fator preditivo significativo (p<0,05) para a conversão de resumos em manuscritos completos. Conclusão: a taxa de conversão deste estudo bibliométrico foi inferior à tendência de conversão descrita em congressos internacionais de Cirurgia Plástica, e a presença de análise estatística foi um determinante para o sucesso de conversão.

A cirurgia de mão como uma área de atuação dos cirurgiões plásticos / Hand surgery as a working area of plastic surgeons

INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos prévios têm revelado que o público tem conhecimentos equivocados sobre a atuação dos cirurgiões plásticos em cirurgia da mão. No entanto, não existem dados específicos na literatura científica brasileira. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as percepções do público sobre o papel dos cirurgiões plásticos no campo de cirurgia da mão no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Membros do público brasileiro escolheram um ou dois especialistas que eles acreditassem serem experts para oito cenários relacionados à cirurgia de mão. Os padrões de respostas foram distribuídos como "cirurgiões plásticos" ou "não cirurgiões plásticos". RESULTADOS: "Não cirurgiões plásticos" foram significativamente (p < 0,05 para todas as comparações) mais reconhecidos como experts que "cirurgiões plásticos" em todos os cenários relacionados à cirurgia de mão. CONCLUSÃO: Os conhecimentos e as percepções do público brasileiro sobre o trabalho realizado por cirurgiões plásticos no campo cirurgia da mão são limitados.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have shown that the public has misconceptions about the work of plastic surgeons in hand surgery. However, no specific Brazilian data on this issue are available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the public perceptions about the role of plastic surgeons in the field of hand surgery in Brazil. METHODS: Members of the Brazilian public chose one or two specialists whom they believed to be experts in eight scenarios related to hand surgery. The patterns of the responses were distributed into "plastic surgeons" or "non-plastic surgeons." RESULTS: Non-plastic surgeons were significantly (p < 0.05 for all comparisons) more recognized as experts than plastic surgeons in all scenarios related to hand surgery. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and perceptions of the Brazilian public about the work performed by plastic surgeons in the field of hand surgery are limited.