Publications by authors named "Aaron S Long"
Purpose: Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is associated with improved psychological outcomes in transgender patients. We aimed to evaluate the impact of FFS on patient satisfaction with facial appearance using validated, patient-reported outcome tools.
Methods: Patients were recruited to complete a FACE-Q survey at least 6 months after their FFS.
Background: Favorable behavioral interactions are critical for academic and interpersonal success. An association between metopic synostosis and behavioral impairments has not been fully elucidated. Behavioral dysfunction in school-age children with surgically corrected metopic synostosis was evaluated using targeted testing to detect the most common behavioral abnormalities in this population.
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- Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (nsCS) affects brain growth due to premature skull suture fusion, potentially leading to ongoing neurocognitive issues in affected children despite surgery.
- The study combined genetic sequencing from 291 families with single-cell data to explore when and where nsCS-related genes impact development.
- Findings revealed that nsCS genes interact mainly in cranial cells involved in skull formation and brain development, indicating that mutations may play a larger role in neurodevelopmental outcomes than the surgical repair itself.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how the severity of metopic synostosis, measured by artificial intelligence, impacts long-term neurocognitive outcomes in children.
- Results show that greater severity correlates with lower reading comprehension and that older age at surgery is linked to poorer visuomotor integration scores.
- The findings suggest that timely surgical correction might help address neurodevelopmental challenges associated with the condition.
Article Synopsis
- Tranexamic acid (TXA) is often used in surgeries like facial feminization but raises concerns about potential venous thromboembolic events (VTE) due to its prothrombotic nature.
- A study reviewed 79 facial feminization surgeries conducted between 2015 and 2022, focusing on patients' demographics, surgical procedures, and outcomes related to TXA usage and anticoagulation.
- The findings indicated no significant increase in VTE rates or other complications between patients who received TXA and those who didn't, suggesting it may be safe for use in patients with a history of estrogen supplementation.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates cognitive outcomes in children aged 6-18 who underwent surgery for non-syndromic craniosynostosis, focusing on different types such as sagittal, metopic, and unicoronal synostosis.
- A total of 204 children were tested, with results indicating that those with sagittal synostosis performed better in various cognitive measures, including verbal IQ and visuomotor integration, compared to those with metopic synostosis.
- The findings suggest that even after surgical correction for craniosynostosis, some cognitive deficits may persist, particularly in children with metopic and unicoronal synostosis due to potential effects on brain structure.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards virtual education in medical training, particularly in surgical fields.
- Virtual surgical education includes a range of technologies, from live-streaming surgeries to fully immersive virtual simulations.
- The article discusses the application of these technologies in hand surgery, highlighting their use in preoperative planning, intraoperative guidance, and the creation of a virtual surgery subinternship.
Article Synopsis
- - Reconstruction for microtia significantly reduces psychosocial issues for patients, highlighting its importance for mental health and well-being.
- - At a major medical center, only about 50% of patients with microtia were seen by a reconstructive craniofacial surgeon at any stage.
- - There is concern that patients who are monitored early for hearing problems are not being referred promptly for reconstructive surgery.
Article Synopsis
- Unilateral lambdoid synostosis is the least common type of single-suture craniosynostosis, which involves premature fusion of a skull suture.
- The primary surgical method for correction is cranial vault remodeling, with advances in preoperative virtual surgical modeling enhancing surgical planning and efficiency.
- A case study is presented involving a 7-month-old boy who successfully had cranial vault reconstruction using medically modeled techniques.
Article Synopsis
- Helmet therapy is crucial for treating deformational plagiocephaly, but access to this treatment can be limited, especially for patients with Medicaid.
- A retrospective study analyzed data from 219,869 referrals between 2014 and 2020, finding that Medicaid patients were less likely to receive helmets and more likely to experience delayed treatment.
- The study revealed significant regional variations in access, with some states showing better access for Medicaid patients, but overall delays and late presentations were consistent across all states, suggesting that state-specific Medicaid policies influence treatment availability.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed the effects of insurance status on the treatment outcomes of helmet therapy for Deformational Plagiocephaly (DP) using data from over 211,000 patients.
- Findings revealed that Medicaid recipients were more likely to have residual head flattening post-treatment compared to those with private insurance.
- Additionally, providers rated the success of helmet therapy lower for Medicaid patients, suggesting that caregivers of these patients may need more support to improve outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- * It highlights alarming statistics regarding female representation in academic ranks, with only 2.4% of full professors being female and a gradual increase to 32.0% among assistant professors.
- * The research also shows stark differences in experience levels, finding that the percentage of female faculty decreases with increased years in practice, with only 5.9% of those with over 30 years since graduation being female.
Article Synopsis
- Deformational plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, conditions caused by external forces leading to skull flattening in infants, are commonly treated with orthotic helmet therapy.
- A study of over 140,000 patients found that older age, greater severity at the start of treatment, and noncompliance were linked to poorer outcomes.
- Results suggest that earlier referral for helmet therapy is crucial, particularly for severe cases, and that factors like age at treatment and adherence to protocols need to be addressed for better success rates.
Racial and geographic disparities in reconstructive procedures following melanoma resection.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
November 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how race and socioeconomic status affect the rates of reconstructive procedures and outcomes for melanoma patients, highlighting disparities faced by Black and Hispanic patients compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
- Data from the National Inpatient Sample (2010-2015) reveal that Black and Hispanic patients experience longer hospital stays and are less likely to receive complex reconstructive surgeries compared to their White counterparts.
- The findings suggest that living in a rural area negatively impacts access to complex procedures, and smaller hospitals tend to perform fewer of these intricate surgeries, indicating significant racial and socioeconomic disparities in melanoma treatment.
Limited Access to Facial Feminization Geographically Despite Nationwide Expansion of Other Gender-Affirming Surgeries.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open
September 2022
Article Synopsis
- Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is a crucial part of gender-affirming surgery for those wanting to align their appearance with their gender identity, but trends and prevalence in the U.S. remain unclear.
- From 2008 to 2017, over 3,000 patients underwent gender-affirming surgery, with costs increasing significantly from around $13,657 to $50,789.
- FFS was performed on about 9.1% of gender-affirming surgery patients, mainly in the Western and Northeast U.S., and the procedure was mostly funded through self-pay and Medicaid options.
Article Synopsis
- Facial trauma results in over 3 million emergency room visits annually in the U.S., posing significant costs to healthcare systems and surgeons.
- A survey of American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons members revealed that 64% are required to take facial trauma call, but only 44% receive compensation for it.
- Compensation for taking trauma call is more common among surgeons at level 1 trauma centers, while those in the Northeast are less likely to receive compensation compared to other regions.
Impact of the Step 1 Scoring Change on the Upcoming Application Cycle.
Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open
July 2022
Evolving Mural Defects, Dilatation, and Biomechanical Dysfunction in Angiotensin II-Induced Thoracic Aortopathies.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
August 2022
Background: Thoracic aortopathy associates with extracellular matrix remodeling and altered biomechanical properties. We sought to quantify the natural history of thoracic aortopathy in a common mouse model and to correlate measures of wall remodeling such as aortic dilatation or localized mural defects with evolving microstructural composition and biomechanical properties of the wall.
Methods: We combined a high-resolution multimodality imaging approach (panoramic digital image correlation and optical coherence tomography) with histopathologic examinations and biaxial mechanical testing to correlate spatially, for the first time, macroscopic mural defects and medial degeneration within the ascending aorta with local changes in aortic wall composition and mechanical properties.
Background: Autologous breast reconstruction is associated with superior patient-reported outcomes compared with prosthetic techniques, but little is known about the relationship between autologous flap mass and patient satisfaction. We hypothesized that a higher differential mass (ratio of flap mass to mastectomy mass) would be associated with greater satisfaction with reconstruction.
Methods: In this retrospective study, patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction between 2015 and 2020 with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap completed the BREAST-Q survey.
Historically, sterilization of the so-called feeble-minded has been advocated in the name of eugenics. Surrogate decision-making that impacts sexuality of the intellectually disabled presents significant ethical dilemmas. We describe a 19-year-old intellectually disabled woman who presented with her legal decision-maker for surgical correction of her asymmetric chest and hypoplastic breast.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis cohort study examines changes in gender-affirming surgery by US region and insurance use during periods when antidiscrimination policies took effect in the US between 2008 and 2017.
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