The Value of Case Reports in Plastic Surgery: An Analysis of 68,444 Articles across Six Major Plastic Surgery Journals.

Case reports provide a salient contribution to the field of plastic surgery through the timely dissemination of knowledge on previously underreported topics. Once a time-honored hallmark of the surgical literature, the perceived value of case reports has decreased with the ongoing prioritization of higher levels of evidence. In this study, we aimed to assess long-term trends in case report publication rates and discuss the continued merits of case reports in the modern-day landscape. Methods: A PubMed search was used to identify articles published in six prominent plastic surgery journals since 1980. Articles were separated as case reports versus all other publication types. The total number of articles published by group was tracked, and citation rates were compared across groups. Additionally, the most cited articles from each journal were identified for both groups. Results: A total of 68,444 articles were included for analysis. In 1980, there were 181 case reports published compared with 413 other articles across all six journals. In 2022, there were 188 case reports published compared with 3343 other articles. When comparing citations per year of case reports versus other article types across all journals since 1980, case reports were found to be cited significantly less frequently (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Case reports have been published and cited less frequently than other types of literature over the last 42 years. However, despite these trends, they have demonstrated significant historical contributions and provide continued value as an impactful forum for highlighting novel clinical entities.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries in Plastic Surgeons in the United States, Canada, and Norway.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries are more common among surgeons than among the general population. However, little is known about these types of injuries among plastic surgeons specifically. The authors' goals were to evaluate the prevalence, nature, causes, and potential solutions of these musculoskeletal injuries among plastic surgeons in three different countries: the United States, Canada, and Norway. METHODS: A survey was e-mailed to plastic surgeons in the United States, Canada, and Norway, soliciting their demographics, practice description, history of musculoskeletal issues, potential causes of these symptoms, and proposed suggestions to address these injuries. The prevalence of various musculoskeletal symptoms was calculated, and predictors of these symptoms were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The survey was sent to 3314 plastic surgeons, with 865 responses (response rate, 26.1 percent); 78.3 percent of plastic surgeons had musculoskeletal symptoms, most commonly in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. U.S. surgeons were significantly more likely to have musculoskeletal symptoms than Norwegian surgeons (79.5 percent versus 69.3 percent; p < 0.05); 6.7 percent of all respondents required surgical intervention for their symptoms. The most common causative factors were long surgery duration, tissue retraction, and prolonged neck flexion. The most common solutions cited were core-strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, and frequent adjustment of table height during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Plastic surgeons are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Ergonomic principles can be applied in the operating room to decrease the incidence and severity of those injuries, and to avoid downstream sequelae, including the need for surgery.

Facial restoration by transplantation: the Brigham and Women's face transplant experience.

Since 2009, the face transplant team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has performed 6 successful partial and full facial transplantations on carefully selected patients. The development of these techniques has led to a new era in facial reconstruction which now more correctly can be described as facial restoration. Besides the obvious facts of giving someone with a missing or severely disfigured face a new appearance, facial restoration has led to many other interesting observations in terms of immunologic models, airway functionality, sensory recovery and cerebral cortical functioning. In this article, we present an overview of our experience, and where we are today-also presenting some of the interesting avenues that have opened and will lead us further in the daunting experience of facial allotransplantation.

The freestyle pedicle perforator flap: a new favorite for the reconstruction of moderate-sized defects of the torso and extremities.

BACKGROUND: Perforating vessels are a consistent anatomical finding and well described in the current literature. Any skin flap can be raised on a subcutaneous pedicle as long as it contains at least one supplying perforator. Perforator flaps have been interlinked with microsurgery and generally not widely performed by the general plastic surgeons. The aim of this paper is to present the simplicity of pedicled perforator flap reconstruction of moderate-sized defects of the extremities and torso. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 34 patients reconstructed using 34 freestyle pedicled perforator flaps for moderate-sized defects of the truncus and extremities. We registered indications, flap size and localization, success rate, and complications. Most importantly, we describe a simple approach to the design of freestyle pedicled perforator flaps and elaborate on technical aspects in the context of current literature. RESULTS: The reconstructive goals were achieved in all cases without any total flap loss or major complications. Minor complications occurred in 7/34 (21 %) cases consisting of venous congestion leading to distal tip necrosis or epidermolysis; partial flap loss was significant in 4 cases, however never more than 10 % of the total flap size. Reconstruction was performed on the lower limb in 13 cases, upper limb in 12, and 9 cases were on the truncus. The angle of rotation was 90° in 21 cases and 180° in 13 cases. The most common indication was reconstruction of oncological skin defects; melanoma 19, BCC 6, SCC 2, other 7. The flap size varied from 1.5×3 cm to 12×22 cm. The perforator identification was done by intraoperative exploration in 17 cases and by color Doppler ultrasonography in 17 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-sized defects of the torso and extremities can be successfully reconstructed by pedicled perforator flaps. The flap dissection is simple, and the complication rates comparable to other reconstructive options. Level of evidence IV, therapeutic study.

Novel surgical technique for full face transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Full face transplantation raises a new set of ethical concerns and technical difficulties when compared with partial face transplantation. Previously, it was thought that full face allografts must include bilateral superficial temporal and facial arteries, dictating the need for inclusion of donor parotid glands. This would lead to poor aesthetic outcomes and limit facial nerve coaptation to the level of the main trunk, which often results in synkinesias. The authors present a new approach to full facial allograft recovery based on blood supply from facial arteries alone. This approach eliminates the need to include parotid glands, enabling more distal coaptation of facial nerve branches and targeted innervation of effector muscles. The recovery can be reproducibly performed within 4 hours. METHODS: Three mock cadaver dissections and three full face transplantations were performed. RESULTS: Donor facial allografts were dissected in cranio-caudal and lateral-to-medial fashion. Individual facial nerve branches were cut medial to parotid glands and coapted to corresponding recipient nerve branches. With the exception of one parotid gland used to add bulk, parotids were generally not included in the allografts. Relevant sensory nerves were coapted. External carotid arteries were dissected, leaving only bilateral facial arteries as the primary arterial supply. All full facial allografts were well perfused immediately following transplantation and are surviving. CONCLUSIONS: The authors describe a new, simple, and reproducible technique of full facial allograft recovery that allows perfusion using only bilateral facial arteries. Their technique follows critical principles of targeted sensory and motor nerve coaptation.

Analysis of complications and patient satisfaction in pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous and deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate complications and patient satisfaction after pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) and deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction at a single institution. There were 346 patients identified from 1999 to 2006 who underwent 197 pedicled TRAM and 217 DIEP flap reconstructions. Flap complication rates were similar between groups, whereas pedicled TRAM reconstructions had higher rates of abdominal bulge (9.5% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.0071) and hernias (3.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.0052). DIEP flap patients had significantly higher general satisfaction (81.7% vs. 70.2%, P = 0.0395), whereas aesthetic satisfaction was similar between groups. Furthermore, DIEP flap patients, particularly those undergoing bilateral reconstructions, were more likely to choose the same type of reconstruction compared with pedicled TRAM patients (92.5% vs. 80.7%, P = 0.0113). Understanding the differences in complications and satisfaction will help physicians and patients make informed decisions about abdominal-based autologous breast reconstruction.

Limb ischemia after iliac ligation in aged mice stimulates angiogenesis without arteriogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: Older patients are thought to tolerate acute ischemia more poorly than younger patients. Since aging may depress both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, we determined the effects of age on both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in a model of severe acute limb ischemia. METHODS: Young adult (3-months-old) and aged (18-months-old) C57BL/6 mice underwent right common iliac artery and vein ligation and transection. Data were collected on days 0, 7, and 14. Perfusion was measured with a laser Doppler scan and compared to the contralateral limb. Functional deficits were evaluated with the Tarlov scale. Capillary density and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number were determined by direct counting lectin-positive/alpha-actin-negative cells and VEGFR2/CXCR4 dually-positive cells, respectively; angiography was performed to directly assess arteriogenesis. RESULTS: Young adult and aged mice had a similar degree of decreased perfusion after iliac ligation (young, n = 15: 20.4 +/- 1.9%, vs aged, n = 20: 19.6 +/- 1.3%; P = .72, analysis of variance [ANOVA]); however, young mice recovered faster and to a greater degree than aged mice (day 7, 35 +/- 6% vs 17 +/- 4%, P = .046; day 14, 60 +/- 5% vs 27 +/- 7%, P = .0014). Aged mice had worse functional recovery by day 14 compared to young mice (2.3 +/- 0.3 vs 4.3 +/- 0.4; P = .0021). Aged mice had increased capillary density (day 7, 12.9 +/- 4.4 vs 2.8 +/- 0.3 capillaries/hpf; P = .02) and increased number of EPC incorporated into the ischemic muscle (day 7, 8.1 +/- 0.9 vs 2.5 +/- 1.9 cells; P = .007) compared to young mice, but diminished numbers of collateral vessels to the ischemic limb (1 vs 9; P = .01), as seen on angiography. CONCLUSION: After severe hind limb ischemia, aged animals become ischemic to a similar degree as young animals, but aged animals have significantly impaired arteriogenesis and functional recovery compared to younger animals. These results suggest that strategies to stimulate arteriogenesis may complement those that increase angiogenesis, and may result in improved relief of ischemia.

Urgent carotid endarterectomy is safe in patients with few comorbid medical conditions.

Recent reports from single institutions have confirmed the efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed in the urgent or emergent setting, although with higher perioperative mortality and morbidity. We determined the results of urgently performed CEA in academic and community hospitals and whether patient or hospital factors affected outcome. The records of patients undergoing CEA in all nonfederal hospitals in the state of Connecticut between 1992 and 2002 were reviewed, and symptomatic patients who presented in an urgent or emergent fashion were compared to patients treated electively. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of patient risk factors on perioperative mortality, stroke, and cardiac complications. Patients undergoing urgent CEA (n = 764, 6.3%) had higher perioperative mortality (2.0% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.0001) and stroke (2.9% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.0001) but not cardiac complications (3.0% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.14) compared to patients undergoing elective CEA (n = 11,312). Patients undergoing urgent CEA and with high rates of associated comorbidity had a higher risk of perioperative mortality (7.8% vs. 0.4, p = 0.001), stroke (10.9% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.0002), and cardiac complications (14.1% vs. 0.8%, p < 0.0001) compared to patients presenting urgently but with little comorbidity. Perioperative mortality was associated with performance of the procedure in hospitals with low bed capacity (odds ratio [OR] = 4.6, p = 0.01). Perioperative stroke was associated with renal insufficiency (OR = 5.3, p = 0.04). Perioperative cardiac complications were associated with diabetes (OR = 2.6, p = 0.03) and performance in hospitals with low bed capacity (OR = 5.0, p < 0.01). Urgent admission was associated with age >/=80 (OR = 1.2, p = 0.04), renal disease (OR = 1.8, p = 0.05), and cardiac disease (OR = 1.3, p < 0.01). Urgently performed CEA has higher perioperative mortality and stroke compared with electively performed cases. However, the subset of patients with low rates of associated comorbid medical conditions but urgently needing CEA is associated with low rates of perioperative complications. Patients with severe associated comorbid medical conditions who present urgently for CEA may form a high-risk group of patients to be considered for referral to large treatment centers or possibly alternative therapy.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase stimulates aneurysm growth in aged mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Age-associated changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression have not been definitively linked to the pathophysiology of aortic aneurysms. We examined the role of eNOS in human patients and an age-appropriate mouse model. METHODS: eNOS transcripts and immunodetectable protein were assessed by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry in human ascending thoracic aneurysms (n = 29) and referent aortae (n = 31). Carotid aneurysms were induced with CaCl2 in young adult (3 months) and aged (18 months) C57BL/6 and eNOS-knockout (eNOS-KO) mice. RESULTS: eNOS transcripts and protein were reduced in human aneurysms compared with controls, although aortic eNOS expression also decreased with patient age. Aged wild-type mice had significantly larger aneurysm diameter than young adult mice. Aged wild-type mice had reduced eNOS transcripts and protein compared with young adult mice. Aged eNOS-KO mice had smaller aneurysms compared with aged wild-type mice but similar size aneurysms compared with young eNOS-KO and young wild-type mice. CONCLUSION: eNOS expression is reduced in both aged human and aged mouse endothelium and eNOS expression is linked to aneurysm expansion in aged but not young adult mice. These findings support the relevance of age-associated changes in eNOS expression in clinical aneurysmal disease.

Smooth muscle cell signal transduction: implications of vascular biology for vascular surgeons.

Vascular smooth muscle cells exhibit varied responses after vessel injury and surgical interventions, including phenotypic switching, migration, proliferation, protein synthesis, and apoptosis. Although the source of the smooth muscle cells that accumulate in the vascular wall is controversial, possibly reflecting migration from the adventitia, from the circulating blood, or in situ differentiation, the intracellular signal transduction pathways that control these processes are being defined. Some of these pathways include the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt, Rho, death receptor-caspase, and nitric oxide pathways. Signal transduction pathways provide amplification, redundancy, and control points within the cell and culminate in biologic responses. We review some of the signaling pathways activated within smooth muscle cells that contribute to smooth muscle cell heterogeneity and development of pathology such as restenosis and neointimal hyperplasia.

Venous identity is lost but arterial identity is not gained during vein graft adaptation.

OBJECTIVES: Ephrin ligands and Eph receptors are signaling molecules that are differentially expressed on arteries and veins during development. We examined whether Eph-B4, a venous marker, and Ephrin-B2, an arterial marker, are regulated during vein graft adaptation in humans and aged rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eph-B4 transcripts and immunodetectable protein are downregulated in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of patent vein grafts in both humans and in aged rats, whereas Ephrin-B2 transcripts and protein are not strongly induced. Other markers of arterial identity, including dll4 and notch-4, are also not induced during vein graft adaptation in aged rats. Because VEGF-A is upstream of the Ephrin-Eph pathway, and expression of VEGF-A is induced only at early time points after exposure of the vein to the arterial environment, we inhibited VEGF-A in vein grafts using an siRNA-based approach. Vein grafts treated with siRNA directed against VEGF-A demonstrated a thicker intima-media containing alpha-actin, consistent with arterialization, but did not contain Eph-B4 or Ephrin-B2. CONCLUSIONS: Venous identity is preserved in the veins of aged animals, but is lost during adaptation to the arterial circulation; arterial markers are not induced. Markers of vessel identity are plastic in adults and their selective regulation may mediate vein graft adaptation to the arterial environment in aged animals and humans.

Evidence supporting changes in Nogo-B levels as a marker of neointimal expansion but not adaptive arterial remodeling.

Both neointimal hyperplasia and inward remodeling contribute to restenosis and lumen loss. Nogo-B has been recently described as an inhibitor of vascular injury and neointimal hyperplasia. To determine whether Nogo-B expression may be a mediator of inward remodeling, we examine the localization of expression of Nogo-B in an in vivo model that examines both neointimal hyperplasia and inward remodeling. The rabbit carotid artery was subjected to balloon injury, outflow branch ligation to reduce flow, or both balloon injury and reduction in flow. In balloon injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia Nogo-B expression was reduced in the intima and media but stimulated in the adventitia. In low flow-induced inward remodeling medial Nogo-B expression was not reduced and adventitial Nogo-B expression was not stimulated. Low flow significantly augmented balloon injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia and was accompanied by reduced intimal and medial Nogo-B expression, and increased adventitial Nogo-B expression in both smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Low flow-induced inward remodeling is not associated with changes in medial Nogo-B expression and is distinct from injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia. Pharmacological strategies to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis using normal flow models may only partially account for lumen loss and therefore may not accurately predict responses in patients with extensive outflow disease.

Malnutrition after vascular surgery: are patients with chronic renal failure at increased risk?

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effects of perioperative malnutrition on recovery after general surgery are established. Since the effects of perioperative malnutrition on recovery after vascular surgery are not known, we examined the effects of nutritional status, and risk factors predictive of malnutrition, on outcome after vascular surgery. METHODS: The records of all open index vascular cases (abdominal aortic aneurysm [AAA] repair, carotid endarterectomy [CEA], lower extremity bypass) performed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Connecticut between July 2004 and June 2005 were reviewed. The primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes included infection and nutritional risk index (NRI) scores. RESULTS: Sixty-eight open vascular cases were performed during the study period. Nutritional depletion developed in 55% of patients and was more likely in patients undergoing AAA (85%) or bypass (77%) than CEA (30%; P = .0005). Patients who developed malnutrition had similar mortality as patients who did not develop postoperative malnutrition (6.1% vs. 3.7%; P = .68); however, malnourished patients had higher rates of postoperative infection (24.2% vs. 3.7%; P = .03). Chronic renal failure was the only patient-associated risk factor predictive of postoperative nutritional depletion (odds ratio 5.9, confidence interval 1.0 to 33.6; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing major open vascular surgery have high rates of postoperative malnutrition, with patients undergoing AAA repair having the highest rates of postoperative malnutrition and infection. Patients with chronic renal failure undergoing vascular surgery are associated with increased risk for postoperative malnutrition and may be a group to target for perioperative risk factor modification and nutritional supplementation.