Assessing the Reliability of Facial Feminization Content on Social Media and Its Impact on the Dissemination of Misinformation.

BACKGROUND: The surge in social media usage has transformed the dissemination and consumption of healthcare information, notably impacting plastic surgery and cosmetic specialties. This study focuses on the influence of social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, in shaping perceptions of individuals seeking facial feminization (FF) procedures. METHODS: Using the validated DISCERN scale, we assessed the reliability and accuracy of FF content on TikTok and Instagram. The study also analyzed the relationship between content reliability on engagement metrics (likes, comments, views) and the type of content shared (educational, testimonial, promotional). RESULTS: The analysis encompassed 225 TikTok videos and 75 Instagram posts. TikTok content showed 9.33% as "very poor," 66.2% as "poor," 22.6% as "fair," and only 1.33% as "excellent." Similarly, Instagram content demonstrated 14.67% as "very poor" and 69.33% as "poor," with no content rated as "good" or "excellent." Educational content received higher reliability scores on both platforms. TikTok engagement metrics showed lower reliability ratings correlating with more views, comments, and likes. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the critical role of social media in shaping patient perspectives on FF procedures. The prevalence of inaccurate information necessitates a focus on responsible engagement by healthcare professionals, aiming to provide accurate, educational content that aligns with patients' informational needs and ultimately enhances surgical outcomes.

Understanding the Drivers of Cost and Length of Stay in a Cohort of 21,875 Patients with Severe Burn.

Burn management has significantly advanced in the past 75 years, resulting in improved mortality rates. However, there are still over one million burn victims in the United States each year, with over 3,000 burn-related deaths annually. The impacts of individual patient, hospital, and regional demographics on length of stay (LOS) and total cost have yet to be fully explored in a large nationally representative cohort. Thus, this study aimed to examine various hospital and patient characteristics using a sample of over 20,000 patients. Inpatient data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2008 to 2015 were analyzed, and only patients with an ICD-9 code for second- or third-degree burns were included. In addition, a major operating room procedure must have been indicated on the discharge summary for patients to be included in the final dataset, ensuring that only severe burns requiring complex care were analyzed. Analysis of covariance models was used to evaluate the impact of various patient, hospital, and regional variables on both LOS and cost. The study found that skin grafts and fasciotomy significantly increased the cost of hospitalization. Having burns on the face, neck, and trunk significantly increased costs for patients with second-degree burns, while burns on the trunk resulted in the longest LOS for patients with third-degree burns. Infections in the hospital and additional procedures, such as flaps and skin grafts, also led to longer stays. The study also found that the prevalence of postoperative complications, such as electrolyte imbalance, was high among patients with burn surgery.

Evaluating the Impact of Residency Research Productivity on Craniofacial Surgeons' Career Trajectory.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate trends in publication productivity over the past 50 years and how they correlate with the stage of training as well as the competitiveness of residency and fellowship programs. The authors hypothesize that research qualifications play an important role in obtaining a competitively ranked craniofacial surgery fellowship and that over the past 50 years, there has been an upward shift in the research qualifications held by applicants at the time of application. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed involving all 121 academic craniofacial surgeons in the United States for whom sex, years since fellowship, current institution rank, current academic position, and years since graduation were available. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between research qualifications, as determined by the overall number of publications, number of first authorship publications, H-index scores, and years since fellowship completion, was examined. The study also analyzed the placement of surgeons at programs ranked in the top 25 versus the lower 25. RESULTS: As the number of decades since beginning craniofacial fellowship decreased, the average number of first authorship publications and average H-index increased. Those who attended higher-ranking residency and fellowship programs had a higher average number of publications, number of first authorship publications, and H-index. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past 5 decades, research productivity at all stages of medical training has surged, potentially fueled by the trend toward pass/fail grading in medical school evaluations and standardized exams and the need to differentiate oneself in an increasingly competitive field.

National Trends in Microtia Repair Cost and Hospital Length of Stay.

Microtia can have deleterious impacts on the functional, psychological, and aesthetic outcomes of affected young children. Reconstructive procedures can alleviate these negative outcomes and significantly improve the quality of life for patients; however, the cost and length of hospital stay (LOS) for such procedures and the factors that impact them have not been well-characterized. This study seeks to understand the hospital-level (institution type, size, and geographic region) and patient-level factors (race, age, and insurance status) that impact cost and LOS in patients who undergo microtia reconstructive surgery. A retrospective data analysis was conducted utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for the years 2008 to 2015. Inclusion criteria included patients who had an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic code for microtia (744.23) as well as a procedure for microtia correction (186×/187×). A total of 714 microtia repair cases met the inclusion criteria and were sampled from the NIS database. Microtia repair cost was significantly increased on the West Coast compared with the Northeast ($34,947 versus $29,222, P =0.020), increased with patient age ($614/y, P =0.012), and gradually increased from 2008 to 2015 ($25,897-$48,985, P <0.001). Microtia LOS was significantly increased with government-controlled hospitals compared with private hospitals (1.93 versus 1.39 d, P =0.005), increased with patients on Medicaid compared with private insurance (2.33 versus 2.00 d, P =0.036), and overall decreased with patient age (-0.07 d/y, P =0.001). The results not only identify the multifactorial impacts that drive cost and LOS in microtia repair but provide insights into the financial and medical considerations patients and their families must navigate.

Pediatric Facial Burns and Consumer Products: A Nationwide Analysis.

Pediatric facial burns pose significant challenges in terms of physical, psychological, and social impacts on children. Understanding the causes of these burns is crucial for prevention and appropriate care. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of causes and preventive measures related to pediatric facial burns caused by consumer products. Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2012 to 2021, we analyzed 130,461 cases of pediatric facial burns. Common causes included household items such as cleaning supplies, hot water, kitchen appliances, and health and beauty products. Differences in burn causes were observed between genders, with boys more prone to burns from welding equipment, gasoline, and grills, while girls were more susceptible to burns from hair curling equipment, candles, and health and beauty products. The mean age of children burned by different items varied, highlighting the need for age-appropriate preventive measures. The authors discuss the importance of caregiver education, safe storage practices, supervision, and clear communication in preventing pediatric facial burns. By raising awareness of potential burn sources and implementing preventive strategies, the incidence of pediatric facial burns can be significantly reduced.

Tranexamic Acid in Facial Feminization Surgery: Quantifying a High-risk Setting With Exogenous Estrogen Supplementation.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been increasingly utilized in orthognathic surgery, aesthetic surgery, and craniofacial surgery. However, the risk of increasing venous thromboembolic events (VTE) must be carefully considered as TXA is a prothrombotic agent. Our study aimed to investigate the safety of TXA in the setting of facial feminization surgery. These patients are at an elevated risk for VTE at baseline given their uniform history of exogenous estrogen supplementation. A retrospective review of all patients that underwent facial feminization surgery at our medical center between December 2015 and September of 2022 was performed. Demographic information, procedure type, Caprini scores, hematoma rate, VTE rate, estimated blood loss, and operative time were all studied. Unpaired t tests were used to compare patients that received TXA and those who did not. In total, there were 79 surgeries performed during our study period. There were 33 surgeries (41.77%) that used TXA intraoperatively. Ten patients (12.65%) received anticoagulation postoperatively, 5 of whom received TXA intraoperatively. Of the 33 patients who received TXA, 30 patients remained on estrogen therapy. There was no statistically significant difference in VTE rates in patients who received TXA (n=33, 41.77%) and those who did not (n=46, 58.23%). Bleeding events, Caprini scores, estimated blood loss, and operative time were also not found to be significantly different between the 2 cohorts. The authors found no significant increase in VTE in facial feminization patients undergoing estrogen supplementation when intraoperative TXA was utilized. This is the first known report investigating the safety of TXA in this higher risk patient population.

Facial Trauma Call Reimbursement Patterns Among American Society of Maxillofacial Surgery Members.

Facial trauma accounts for over 3 million emergency room encounters each year in the United States and places significant financial burden on the health care system and surgeons. However, data on facial trauma call practices among plastic surgeons are lacking. We surveyed members of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS) regarding their experience with facial trauma call. A 27-question online survey was distributed through e-mail to ASMS members. Forty-five ASMS members completed the survey, of whom 64% were required to take facial trauma call and 44% were compensated for call. Respondents in the North-East were less likely [odds ratio (OR): 0.234, confidence interval (CI), 0.054-1.015; P =0.052] to be compensated for taking call, whereas those who worked at level 1 trauma centers were more likely odds ratio: 5.42, CI, 0.892-32.89; P =0.066) to be compensated. Surgeons required to take facial trauma call were 4.646 (CI, 1.203-17.944; P =0.026) times more likely to take call ≥5 days per month. These results highlight a relatively low proportion of plastic surgeons receiving additional compensation for facial trauma call while work at a level 1 trauma center was associated with higher likelihood of compensation. Surgeons in the Northeast may be compensated less frequently than other regions. Plastic surgeons should be aware of these trends, as they decide how to incorporate facial trauma call into their practice.