Opioid prescribing patterns for distal radius fractures in the ambulatory setting: A 10-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are one of the most common orthopedic injuries, with most managed in the nonoperative ambulatory setting. The objectives of this study are to examine National Health Center Statistics (NHCS) data for DRF treated in the nonoperative ambulatory setting to identify opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescribing patterns and to determine demographic risk factors for prescription of these medications. Design, setting, patients, and measures: This study is a retrospective analysis of data collected by the NHCS from 2007 to 2016. Utilizing International Classification of Diseases codes, all visits to emergency departments and doctors' offices for DRFs were identified. Variables of interest included demographic data, expected payment source, and prescription of opioid or nonopioid analgesics. RESULTS: During the study timeframe, 15,572,531 total visits for DRFs were recorded. DRF visits requiring opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescriptions increased over time. Patients aged 45-64 years were significantly more likely to receive an opioid prescription than any other age group (p < 0.05). Opioid prescription was positively correlated with the use of workers' compensation and negatively correlated with patients receiving services under charity care (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prescriptions of both opioid and nonopioid analgesic medications for DRF have been steadily increasing over time in the nonoperative ambulatory setting, with middle-aged adults most likely to receive an opioid prescription. Opioid prescription rates differ significantly between patients utilizing workers' compensation and patients receiving services under charity care, suggesting that socioeconomic factors play a role in prescribing patterns.

Limited English Proficiency Is Not Associated With Poor Postoperative Outcomes or Follow-Up Rates in Patients Undergoing Breast Reduction Mammoplasty - A Single Institution Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Limited English Proficiency (LEP) status has been associated with worse patient outcomes on a variety of metrics. METHODS: A retrospective review of all bilateral breast reduction mammoplasty patients at our institution between 2015 and 2019 was performed. Data collected include patient demographics, language status, interpreter usage, complications, and follow-up clinic/emergency department visits. Patients were grouped into high and low follow-up cohorts by median follow-up. Bivariate testing and regression modeling were used for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1023 patients were included. Average age and body mass index (BMI) were 37.7 years and 31.7 kg/m2. All LEP (21%) patients used interpreters. There were 590 individuals in the low follow-up and 433 in the high follow-up group. Those in low follow-up were younger, with lower BMI, and were more likely to use Medicaid. Prevalence of diabetes and postoperative emergency department visits were higher in the high follow-up cohort. There were no significant differences in race/ethnicity, smoking status, and interpreter use between groups. Poisson modeling demonstrated that presence of complications is associated with a 0.435 increase in the number of clinic visits and a 1-y increase in age is associated with a 0.006 increase (P < 0.001). Interpreter use was not significantly associated with postoperative clinic visits. Multivariable regression modeling demonstrated BMI and diabetes to be significantly associated with incidence of any complication (odds ratio: 1.08 & 2.234; P < 0.001 &P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LEP status was not associated with worse postoperative outcomes or follow-up length in patients undergoing breast reduction mammoplasty. This may be due to interpreter use and effective patient education.

The Impact of Marijuana Use on Postoperative Outcomes in Abdominal-based Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing prevalence of marijuana use in the general population yet clinical studies on marijuana's effect on surgical outcomes remain limited. Marijuana's effect on wound healing, venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to endothelial inflammation, and bleeding due to inhibited platelet function have been cited based on animal models but have not been evaluated clinically in patients undergoing microsurgical reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction in a single institute from August 2018 to December 2022. Patient self-reported marijuana use, demographics, total narcotic use during hospitalization converted to oral morphine milligram equivalent (MME), and 90-day complications were collected and compared. RESULTS: A total of 162 patients were included and 13 patients (8.5%) had reported marijuana use on presurgical history. Marijuana users are more likely to be younger and report concurrent nicotine smoking. Marijuana users were also at a significantly elevated risk of developing symptomatic VTE (15 vs. 1%; odds ratio (OR) 13.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.71-104.2]; p = 0.01) and marijuana use remained a significant risk factor with multivariate analysis. On postoperative 90-day complications, there was no increased risk of flap loss, reoperation, postoperative transfusion, or hematoma associated with marijuana use, and no significantly increased risk for overall donor or recipient site complications. Marijuana users required significantly more narcotics for pain control during hospitalization (100 ± 77 vs. 49 ± 45 MME; p = 0.0003), although they had similar lengths of stay, achievement of mobilization on post operative day (POD)1, and maximal pain scores. CONCLUSION: Marijuana use increases the risks of postoperative VTE and increased postoperative narcotic requirements in patients who underwent abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction. Future prospective cohort study is required to further understand marijuana-associated risks in microsurgical procedures.

Postoperative Magnesium Sulfate Repletion Decreases Narcotic Use in Abdominal-Based Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical breast reconstruction after mastectomy is now the standard of care for breast cancer patients. However, the costs and resources involved in free flap reconstruction can vary across different medical settings. To enhance patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner, we investigated the effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate (IV Mg) on postoperative opioid usage in this context. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all consecutive patients who underwent abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction in a single institute following an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. Patients who received IV Mg were compared with those who did not receive supplementation. Serum magnesium levels at different time points, narcotic consumption in units of oral morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), and other postoperative recovery parameters were compared. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were included. Those who received IV Mg on postoperative day 0 (n = 67) showed significantly lower serum magnesium levels before repletion (1.5 vs. 1.7 mg/dL, p = 0.004) and significantly higher levels on postoperative day 1 after repletion (2.2 vs. 1.7 mg/dL, p = 0.0002) compared to patients who received no magnesium repletion (n = 13). While both groups required a similar amount of narcotics on postoperative day 0 (20.2 vs. 13.2 MMEs, p = 0.2), those who received IV Mg needed significantly fewer narcotics for pain control on postoperative day 1 (12.2 MMEs for IV Mg vs. 19.8 MMEs for No Mg, p = 0.03). Recovery parameters, including maximal pain scores, postoperative mobilization, and length of hospital stay, did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to describe the potential analgesic benefits of routine postoperative magnesium repletion in abdominal-based free flap reconstruction. Further research is necessary to fully understand the role of perioperative magnesium supplementation as part of an ERAS protocol.

Visual Perception of Breast Free Flap Size Is Influenced by Radiation Changes of Surrounding Tissue.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical reconstruction for bilateral mastectomy defects after unilateral radiation often results in asymmetry, despite both flap tissues never being radiated. METHODS: Photos of 16 patients who received prior radiation to one breast and underwent bilateral abdominal free flap reconstruction were taken postoperatively. Layperson and expert assessment were attained via online crowdsourcing and a panel of attending surgeons and senior residents. Stratification by interflap weight differences was done for subanalysis. RESULTS: A total of 399 laypersons responded, with the majority (57.3%) reporting that the radiated breast appeared smaller than the nonradiated breast. When the photos were stratified by interflap weight differences, the photos with the radiated side flap weight over 3% more than nonradiated side were significantly more likely to be perceived by laypersons as the same size (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7; p < 0.001) and of similar aesthetic (OR = 1.9; p < 0.001) when compared with photos with same-sized flaps. Of the expert responses (n = 16), the radiated side was perceived as smaller 72.3% of the time and the nonradiated side appeared more aesthetic 52.7% of the time. Contrary to layperson responses, the experts tend to report the radiated side as smaller despite varying flap weight. Interestingly, expert raters were significantly more likely to rate the flaps of equal aesthetics when the radiated side has a flap larger by 3% or more (OR = 3.6; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher aesthetic scores were noted when larger flaps were inset to the radiated envelope by both laypersons and experts, suggesting potential technical refinement in reconstructive outcomes.

Prejuvenation: What Social Media Tells Us About the Rising Trend.

BACKGROUND: "Prejuvenation," a practice gaining enormous popularity among younger adults, can largely attribute its explosive growth to TikTok, the platform on which many first encounter this trend. Despite the rising usage of prejuvenation, however, there is a lack of clarity regarding its clinical practice and efficacy. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the understandability, reliability, and actionability of prejuvenation-related TikTok content. METHODS: TikTok was queried using 13 hashtags consisting of popular colloquial terms associated with prejuvenation treatments, and the top 25 videos meeting inclusion criteria for each hashtag were analyzed. For each video, poster credentials and video type were determined. Videos considered "educational" were analyzed using the validated modified DISCERN score and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool scales. Creator's prejuvenation recommendations were recorded. Univariate and linear regression models were utilized for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 303 videos amassed over 61,000,000 million views, 3,957,091 likes, 24,455 comments, and 71,697 shares. Nonphysicians posted the most videos (n = 257, 84.8%) and had significantly higher median views, likes, comments, and engagement than physician videos. Analysis of "educational" videos showed that most videos (50, 67%) supported the use of prejuvenation treatments, 18 (24%) were neutral, and 6 (8%) were opposed. CONCLUSIONS: Prejuvenation content on TikTok varies widely in terms of quality and recommendations, calling for more standardization regarding the practice. Physician-generated prejuvenation content was more reliable, but distinguishing it from nonphysician content was challenging, underscoring the need for platform-specific verification tools.

An Analysis of Male Plastic Surgery Content on TikTok.

BACKGROUND: TikTok is a powerful and popular source of patient education. However, the lack of content regulation raises concerns about the spread of medical misinformation. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the source, content, quality, and reliability of TikTok posts focusing on surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments for men. METHODS: A search was conducted on TikTok with 16 popular hashtags related to male cosmetic procedures. The top 25 male-focused videos from each hashtag were chosen for analysis. Videos were categorized by content creator, video type, and descriptive metrics. Educational videos were evaluated for quality with the validated modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) score and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) scale. Statistical analysis was performed with univariate and linear regression models. RESULTS: The included 399 videos totaled 389 million views, 16.4 million likes, 174,594 comments, and 586,743 shares. Most videos were uploaded by plastic and reconstructive surgeons (38.3%). A significant number (38%) of videos by physicians were posted by international physicians, with videos by United States physicians receiving fewer views, comments, and shares than videos posted by international physicians. Patient experience was the most common video category (48.9%). Educational videos had low overall quality, with physician-created videos demonstrating higher DISCERN and PEMAT scores but lower engagement compared to nonphysician videos. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of TikTok videos on male cosmetic surgery was generally low, emphasizing the importance of accurate information dissemination by physicians on social media. The strong presence of international physicians highlights the potential implications of social media on medical tourism.

Hemostatic Agents Do Not Significantly Affect Seroma Formation in Abdominal Body Contouring.

BACKGROUND: Objective: Seroma formation is plaguing complication in abdominal body contouring surgery (ABCS) that has been loosely associated with the use of intraoperative hemostatic agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hemostatic agent usage and seroma development following ABCS. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing ABCS between 2010 and 2020 was completed. Cases who received hemostatic agents were matched to controls (1:2) based on potential confounders including age, BMI, and ASA score. Demographic data, operative details, and postoperative complications including development of seroma, hematoma, venous thromboembolism, wound dehiscence, and delayed wound healing were collected. RESULTS: Seven hundred and seven patients were included in the study. Sixty-five patients (9.2%) received at least one hemostatic agent. The most used agents were topical thrombin (n = 33, 50.1%), dry matrices including oxidized cellulose, microporous polysaccharides, and absorbable gelatin matrices (n = 15, 23.1%) followed by combination fibrin sealant/thrombin preparations (n = 9, 14.0%). No significant differences with respect to demographic data or medical comorbidities between the cases and controls were identified. Bivariate analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the rate of development of seroma (OR: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.23-1.99, p = 0.781), hematoma (OR: 3.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.95-14.65, p = 0.060), venous thromboembolism (OR: 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.44-3.81, p = 0.433). CONCLUSION: Hemostatic agent use, regardless of type, does not significantly affect the risk of seroma, hematoma, and venous thromboembolism development, nor does it influence the rates of delayed wound healing or wound dehiscence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: 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 .

Women in Microsurgery Fellowships: Trends and Impact on Future Practice Patterns.

BACKGROUND: While the number of female plastic surgeons has continued to increase over time, plastic surgery has historically been a male-dominated profession with only 15% of practicing plastic surgeons being female. Microsurgery, as a subspecialty, has been long perceived as an even more male-centric career path. The objective of this study was to determine the representation of females in the subspecialty field of microsurgery and the impact of microsurgical fellowship training. METHODS: A review of all microsurgery fellowship programs participating in the microsurgery fellowship match from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed. Fellows were identified through fellowship Web site pages or direct contact with fellowship program coordinators and directors. The current type of practice and performance of microsurgery were also identified through a Web search and direct contact with fellowship program coordinators and directors. RESULTS: A total of 21 programs and 317 fellows over a 10-year period were analyzed. Over this 10-year period, there was a total of 100 (31.5%) female microsurgery fellows and 217 (68.5%) male microsurgery fellows. There was a small, statistically insignificant increase in the yearly percentage of female microsurgery fellows over this 10-year period with an average yearly increase of 2.7% (p = 0.60; 95% confidence interval: -6.9 to 13.2%). There were significantly fewer females who continued to practice microsurgery compared to males (75 [75.0%] vs. 186 [85.7%], p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in the current practice types (academic, private, and nonacademic hospital) between females and males (p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: Women are underrepresented in the field of microsurgery to a similar extent as they are underrepresented in overall plastic surgery. While there is a small insignificant increase in the number of female microsurgery fellows every year, a significantly smaller proportion of females continue to practice microsurgery compared to males.

Topical Tranexamic Acid Does Not Reduce The Incidence Of Hematoma In Reduction Mammoplasty: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Breast reduction mammoplasty (BRM) is among the most common procedures in plastic surgery, with a 1-7% postoperative hematoma incidence reported. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce perioperative bleeding and need for transfusion when administered intravenously or topically, but remains underutilized in plastic surgery. This study aims to investigate whether topical administration of topical TXA reduces postoperative hematoma following BRM. METHODS: A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of 98 patients (196 breasts) undergoing bilateral primary reduction mammoplasty at a single academic institution was performed. Patients were used as internal matched controls, with one breast randomized to receive 1000mg of topical TXA before closure, and the other receiving saline. All members of the surgical team and patient were blinded as to which breast received the study drug. Postoperative complications, including hematoma, within 30 days of surgery, drain outputs, and duration of drain use, were compared between treatment and placebo breasts. RESULTS: The overall hematoma rate was 1.5%. There was no significant association between application of TXA and development of a hematoma (p=0.56) or other complications. The hematoma rate of patients enrolled in the trial was similar to the overall rate of hematoma during the study time period (1.5% versus 2.4%, p=0.511). In a multivariate model, TXA was not significantly associated with differences in drain output after controlling for resection weight, age, and duration of drain use (p=0.799). No adverse effects or thromboembolic events from TXA were observed. CONCLUSION: Topical application of TXA does not decrease the incidence of hematoma following reduction mammoplasty.

TransTok - An analysis of surgical gender affirmation content on TikTok.

PURPOSE: Social media platforms are popular sources of medical information but may harbor harmful misinformation. This study aims to evaluate the effect of TikTok on the transgender population, which may be more likely to seek information from non-traditional sources because of high medical mistrust. METHODS: Twenty gender affirmation related hashtags were queried, with the top 25 videos per hashtag included for analysis. Videos were categorized based on the content and creator. Variables included likes, comments, shares, and video views. All "educational" videos were analyzed for reliability of information using a modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) score and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PMAT). Kruskal-Wallis H tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and simple linear regression models were used in analysis. RESULTS: A total of 429 videos amassed 571,434,231 views, 108,050,498 likes, 2,151,572 comments, and 190,9744 shares. Patients were the majority of content creators (74.88%), with patient experiences being the majority of videos (36.07%). Non-physician creators had significantly higher likes and comments when compared to physicians (6185 vs. 1645, p = 0.028; 108 vs. 47, p = 0.016 respectively). Sixty "educational" videos were included in information reliability analysis. There were no significant differences between video characteristics of different content creators, even after stratifying according to physician status. Significant differences were observed in the reliability of information according to PMAT and mDISCERN scores, with physician created videos being significantly higher rated than non-physician created videos (0.90 vs. 0.84, p < 0.001; 3 vs. 2, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Lower quality information is associated with non-physician content creators. We encourage physicians to be continuously involved in creating quality information on TikTok.

An Analysis of Cosmetic Facial Injectable Treatment Content on TikTok.

BACKGROUND: TikTok is a powerful and popular source of patient education. However, the lack of content regulation allows for the potential spread of medical misinformation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the source, content, quality, and reliability of TikTok posts regarding nonsurgical cosmetic facial injectable treatments, including Botox and fillers. METHODS: The TikTok application was queried with 14 popular hashtags related to nonsurgical facial injectable treatments. The top 25 search result videos from each hashtag were included in the analysis. Videos were categorized based on content creator, video type, and descriptive metrics collected for each result. Educational videos were further analyzed for content quality with the validated modified DISCERN score and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) scales. Univariate and linear regression models were utilized for content analysis between groups. RESULTS: The included 340 videos totaled 306,552,644 views; 22,715,689 likes; 220,072 comments; and 352,614 shares. Most videos were uploaded by nonphysician healthcare providers (n = 126, 37.1%), and patient experience (n = 130, 38.2%) was the most common video category. Healthcare team content creators had significantly lower median views, likes, comments, shares, and engagement when compared to non-healthcare team content (P < .001). DISCERN scores for information reliability were significantly higher in physician-created videos than nonphysician and nonphysician healthcare provider created videos (2 vs 1.5, P < .001, 2 vs 1.5 P = .001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of TikTok videos regarding nonsurgical cosmetic facial injectable treatments was low, which may stem from a lack of content from physician content creators.

Topical Nitroglycerin Ointment Reduces Mastectomy Flap Necrosis in Immediate Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Mastectomy flap necrosis (MFN) is a common complication of immediate breast reconstruction that greatly affects patient satisfaction and cosmetic outcomes. Topical nitroglycerin ointment, with its low cost and negligible side effects, has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of MFN in immediate implant-based breast reconstruction, but its utility has not been studied in immediate autologous reconstruction. METHODS: With institutional review board approval, a prospective cohort study was performed of all consecutive patients undergoing immediate free-flap breast reconstruction by a single reconstructive surgeon at a single institution between February of 2017 and September of 2021. Patients were divided into two cohorts: those who received 30 mg of topical nitroglycerin ointment to each breast at the conclusion of the operation (September of 2019 to September of 2021) and those who did not (February of 2017 to August of 2019). All patients underwent intraoperative SPY angiography, and mastectomy skin flaps were débrided intraoperatively based on imaging. Independent demographic variables were analyzed, and dependent outcome variables included mastectomy skin flap necrosis, headache, and hypotension requiring removal of ointment. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients (49 breasts) were included in the nitroglycerin cohort and 34 patients (49 breasts) were included in the control group. There was no significant difference in patient demographics, medical comorbidities, or mastectomy weight between cohorts. The rate of MFN decreased from 51% in the control group to 26.5% in the group that received nitroglycerin ointment ( P = 0.013). There were no documented adverse events associated with nitroglycerin use. CONCLUSION: Topical nitroglycerin ointment significantly decreases the rate of MFN in patients undergoing immediate autologous breast reconstruction without significant adverse effects. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.

Evaluation of the i10-Index in Plastic Surgery Research and its Correlation with Altmetric Attention Scores and Traditional Author Bibliometrics: An Evaluation of a Single Journal.

Background Although the Hirsch index (H-index) has become one of the most accepted measures of scholarly output, its limitations have led to the proposition of newer alternative metrics. The i10-index, notable for being easy to calculate and free to access, has potential, given its association with the power and ubiquity of Google. This study aims to evaluate the utility of the i10-index for plastic surgery research by examining its relationship with author bibliometrics and article metrics, including the H-index and Altmetric Attention Score (AAS). Methods Article metrics were extracted from articles published in the highest impact plastic surgery journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, over a 2-year period (2017-2019). Senior author bibliometrics, including i10-index and H5-index, were obtained from Web of Science. Correlation analysis was performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r s ). Results A total of 1,668 articles were published and 971 included. Senior author i10-index measurements demonstrated moderate correlation with times emailed (r s = 0.47), and weak correlations with H5-index, total publications, and sum of times cited with and without self-citations. The H5-index correlated very strongly with total publications (r s = 0.91) and sum of times cited (both r s = 0.97), moderately with average citations per item (r s = 0.66) and times emailed (r s = 0.41), and weakly with number of citations by posts, AAS, and times tweeted. Conclusions Although the i10 strongly correlates with the H5-index, it fails to prove superior to the H5-index in predicting the impact of specific research studies in the field of plastic surgery.

The Impact of Prior Infection With SARS-Cov-2 on Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Body Contouring Procedures.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence of increased postoperative complications in patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2. However, previous studies have not examined this effect in abdominal contouring procedures. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for all patients who underwent abdominoplasty or panniculectomy at our institution from March 2020 to November 2021. Patients were separated into cohorts via preoperative history of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Variables collected include demographic data, concurrent comorbidities, postoperative complications, readmission/reoperation, and length of stay. Parametric, nonparametric, and multivariable regression modeling was used for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 181 patients included, 14 (7.7%) had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Average time from infection to surgery was 250 days. The mean age and Charlson Comorbidity Index for nonexposed and exposed patients were 45.4 and 45.9 years, and 1.24 and 1.36 points. Patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to have chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR], 6.79; P = 0.017) and undergo abdominoplasties compared with panniculectomies (OR, 4.43; P = 0.039). There were no other significant differences in patient or operative characteristics between the cohorts. Compared with those with no history of infection, patients with prior infections had increased odds of postoperative complications such as delayed wound healing (OR, 27.67; P < 0.001). No other significant associations were found between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and perioperative outcomes. CONCLUSION: Prior SARS-CoV-2 infections may be associated with increased incidence of delayed wound healing despite a significant time lag between the time of infection and operation. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact relationship and mechanism of action behind these findings.

Language Disparity Predicts Poor Patient-Reported Outcome and Follow-Up in Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) have starkly different health care experiences compared with their English-proficient counterparts. The authors aim to examine the link between LEP and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent abdominal-based microsurgical breast reconstruction at our institution between 2009 and 2019 was performed. Variables collected included patient demographics, language status, interpreter usage, perioperative complications, follow-up visits, and self-reported outcomes (Breast-Q). Pearson's χ 2 test, Student's t-test, odds ratio analysis, and regression modeling were used for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 405 patients were included. LEP patients comprised 22.22% of the overall cohort with 80% of LEP patients utilizing interpreter services. LEP patients reported significantly lower satisfaction with an abdominal appearance at the 6-month follow-up and lower physical and sexual well-being scores at the 1-year follow-up (p = 0.05, 0.02, 0.01, respectively). Non-LEP patients had significantly longer operative times (539.6 vs. 499.3 minutes, p = 0.024), were more likely to have postoperative donor site revisions (p = 0.05), and more likely to receive preoperative neuraxial anesthesia (p = 0.01). After adjusting for confounders, LEP stats was associated with 0.93 fewer follow-up visits (p = 0.02). Interestingly, compared with LEP patients who did not receive interpreter services, LEP patients who did had 1.98 more follow-up visits (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in emergency room visits or complications between the cohorts. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that language disparities exist within microsurgical breast reconstruction and underscore the importance of effective, language-conscious communication between surgeon and patient.

Concomitant Cervical Spine Injuries in Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma: An 11 Year Review of the National Trauma Data Bank.

PURPOSE: Craniofacial trauma with concomitant cervical fractures (CCFs) is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. We aim to characterize its incidence, injury patterns, outcomes, and risk factors, along with identifying any association between mandible fractures and cervical injuries via the National Trauma Databank. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using National Trauma Databank records between 2007 and 2017 to identify patients equal or under the age of 18 years hospitalized for maxillofacial trauma and with recorded cervical injury. Variables of interest include age, gender, race/ethnicity, trauma type (blunt vs penetrating), Injury Severity Score, area involved, mechanism of injury, comorbid conditions, inpatient complications, and discharge disposition. Retrospective cohorts were separated by CCF status. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable regression analysis was utilized, with P-value <.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 32,952 patients were included in the study, with the majority being White (60.8%), male (68.2%), and between the ages of 13 and 18 years (65%). Of these, 8.2% experienced CCF. Most common mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle trauma (32.6%), interpersonal violence (18.8%), and falls (13.5%). Univariate analysis revealed patients with CCF were significantly older (15.2 vs 12.9; P < .001), more likely to be motor vehicle occupants (46.6 vs 31.9%; P < .001), and suffer polyfacial fractures (62.6 vs 60.7%; P < .001). Longer length of stay (9.4 vs 3.6 days; P < .001) and significantly higher inpatient complications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, unplanned intubation, severe sepsis, pressure ulcer, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and unplanned return to operating room were observed in the CCF cohort. Female gender (1.5 [1.37 to 1.64; 95% confidence interval {CI}] P < .001) and higher Injury Severity Score (1.12 [1.11 to 1.11; 95% CI] P < .001) were associated with significantly higher odds on multivariable analysis. The presence of a mandible fracture was not associated with increased CCF on multivariate analysis (1.06 [0.92 to 1.22; 95% CI] P = .36). CONCLUSIONS: There are statistically significant differences in demographics, outcomes, and injury patterns in maxillofacial patients with CCF that may help guide treatment. No association between mandible fractures and cervical trauma was identified.

Oncologic Safety in Autologous Fat Grafting After Breast Conservation Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is often used to reconstruct defects after breast conservation therapy (BCT). However, concerns exist about the possibility of AFG-related recurrence or metastasis. This study aims to evaluate the literature to evaluate oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing AFG at the time of BCT. METHODS: A systematic review of articles related to AFG based reconstruction at the time of BCT from 1970 to 2021 was performed via PubMed. Patients were grouped based on the presence or lack of AFG usage at the time of BCT, and oncologic outcomes and complications were compared. RESULTS: Of the 146 articles identified, 15 were included. Nine hundred patients underwent BCT alone and 1063 patients underwent BCT with AFG patients. Similar average follow-up time was observed between the groups, 58.7 months (BCT only) and 55.2 months (BCT with AFG). On pooled analysis, no difference was identified in local recurrence 4.8% (43 patients) of the BCT group and 3% (32 patients) in the AFG group (P = 0.8), metastasis 4.8% (43 patients) of the BCT group and 6.9% (73 patients) in the AFG group (P = 0.3), or fat necrosis (P = 0.44). Meta-analysis additionally did not identify any statistically significant odds ratios between the BCT only group and BCT with AFG group when evaluated for total recurrence, local recurrence, metastasis or fat necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results show no significant difference in cancer recurrence or metastasis in the BCT only group versus BCT and AFG, showing that fat grafting has safe outcomes.