Modification of hurling helmets causing penetrating upper limb injury: A case series demonstrating opportunity for improved player safety.

Background: The games of hurling and camogie involve fast ball movement and a substantial physical contact with opposing players. The wearing of protective helmets with faceguards became obligatory 10 years ago and resulted in a significant reduction of craniofacial injuries. However since then a trend has emerged of players modifying helmets to improve comfort and vision.

Levels of Evidence in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research: Have We Improved Over the Past 10 Years?

Levels of evidence (LOE) aid in the critical appraisal of evidence by ranking studies based on limitation of its design. Analyzing LOE provides insight into application of evidence-based medicine. The aim of this study is to determine if the quality of evidence in plastic surgery research has improved over the past 10 years.

Fight Bite Injuries: Aggressive Tendencies Associated with Smaller Second to Fourth Digit Ratio.

Background: Fight bite injuries are typically sustained by young, combative males and are the direct consequence of an aggressive act. Second to fourth digit ratios (2D:4D) are dependent on prenatal androgen exposure and lower ratios have been shown to be linked to various psychological and physical traits, including aggression. The aim of this study was to examine the 2D:4D ratios in a cohort of patients with fight bite injuries and compare these to an age and gender-matched control group.

The sharing of radiological images by professional mixed martial arts fighters on social media.

Background: Mixed martial arts is a sport that has recently enjoyed a significant increase in popularity. This rise in popularity has catapulted many of these "cage fighters" into stardom and many regularly use social media to reach out to their fans. An interesting result of this interaction on social media is that athletes are sharing images of their radiological examinations when they sustain an injury.

High-risk squamous cell carcinoma of the ear - A potential role for sentinel node biopsy.

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the external ear have a significant rate of metastasis. The purpose of this study was to present analyzed factors associated with auricular SCC metastasis in order to identify a group that may benefit from sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all operable SCCs between 2009 and 2014.

Tumor Margin Assessment With Loupe Magnification Enables Greater Histological Clearance of Facial Basal Cell Carcinomas Compared With Clinical Examination Alone.

Background: Surgical excision of facial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) is a balance between oncological clearance and conservation of cosmetic and functionally sensitive tissues.

Objective: To assess if loupe magnification (LM) can enhance the visual assessment of BCC tumor margins resulting in a greater histological clearance.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study randomized patients with primary facial BCCs into preoperative tumor margin assessment with LM (study group) or clinical examination alone (control group).

You've Got to Hand It to Them: Assessing Final Year Medical Students Knowledge of Hand Anatomy and Pathology.

Background: Knowledge of hand anatomy and pathology is important for final year medical students as it frequently appears in examinations as a short case or in a written paper. Studies have shown that doctors in the Emergency Department have a deficient grasp of musculoskeletal anatomy secondary to a lack of dedicated teaching in medical school.

Methods: A questionnaire was handed out to 111 final year medical students.

Trends in the Level of Evidence in Clinical Hand Surgery Research.

Background: The application of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to the practice of hand surgery has been limited. Production of high-quality research is an integral component of EBM. With considerable improvements in the quality evidence in both orthopedic and plastic and reconstructive surgery, it is imperative that hand surgery research emulates this trend.

Scar Wars: Preferences in Breast Surgery.

Background: The uptake of breast reconstruction is ever increasing with procedures ranging from implant-based reconstructions to complex free tissue transfer. Little emphasis is placed on scarring when counseling patients yet they remain a significant source of morbidity and litigation. The aim of this study was to examine the scarring preferences of men and women in breast oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery.

The 50 Most Cited Papers in Craniofacial Anomalies and Craniofacial Surgery.

Background: Citation analysis is a recognized scientometric method of classifying cited articles according to the frequency of which they have been referenced. The total number of citations an article receives is considered to reflect it's significance among it's peers.

Methods: Until now, a bibliometric analysis has never been performed in the specialty of craniofacial anomalies and craniofacial surgery.

Current practice patterns of drain usage amongst UK and Irish surgeons performing bilateral breast reductions: Evidence down the drain.

Introduction: Bilateral breast reduction (BBR) is one of the most frequently performed female breast operations. Despite no evidence supporting efficacy of drain usage in BBRs, postoperative insertion is common. Recent high quality evidence demonstrating potential harm from drain use has subsequently challenged this traditional practice.

Dupuytren's Contracture: A Bibliometric Study of the Most Cited Papers.

The literature on Dupuytren's contracture is vast yet little information is known as to which papers have been the most influential. The purpose of this study was to identify the 50 most cited papers on Dupuytren's contracture and perform a citation analysis. Utilizing the Web of Science, 23 surgical, medical, plastic and hand surgery journals were searched for papers on Dupuytren's contracture.

Levels of Evidence in the Plastic Surgery Literature: A Citation Analysis of the Top 50 'Classic' Papers.

Background: The plastic surgery literature is vast, consisting of a plethora of diverse articles written by a myriad of illustrious authors. Despite this considerable archive of published material, it remains nebulous as to which precise papers have had the greatest impact on our specialty. The aim of this study was to identify the most cited papers in the plastic surgery literature and perform a citation analysis paying particular attention to the evidence levels of the clinical studies.

Use of a barbed suture tie-over technique for skin graft dressings: a case series.

Background: A tie-over dressing is the accepted method to secure skin grafts in order to prevent haematoma or seroma formation. We describe the novel application of a barbed suture tie-over for skin graft dressing. The barbs act as anchors in the skin so constant tensioning of the suture is not required.

An assessment of histological margins and recurrence of melanoma in situ.

Background: Melanoma in situ (MIS) accounts for up to 27% of all melanomas. MIS has no metastatic potential and the aim should be to excise the lesion completely with a clear histological margin, although margin clearance remains undefined. We aimed to assess the relation of histological excision margins of MIS to recurrence and progression to invasive disease.

Fat grafting: a citation analysis of the seminal articles.

Background: There has been substantial rise in the volume of published works on fat transfer in the medical literature in the past 25 years, and this is indicative of its growing popularity. However, many unanswered questions remain, and there is no consensus as to the optimum technique. Consequently, the scientific and clinical research on fat grafting continues to increase rapidly.

The pinking shears: a novel tool for improving skin graft cosmesis.

A significant aesthetic disadvantage to split skin grafts is the obvious transition between the graft and the normal skin. We report on a novel method to interrupt this transition point by using pinking shears, which are dressmaking scissors with saw-toothed blades that create a chevron pattern instead of a straight edge. We describe a case where the pinking shears were utilized on a split skin graft and Integra for reconstruction of the skin on a volar forearm.

Plastic surgery and the breast: a citation analysis of the literature.

Background: A large proportion of the plastic surgery literature is dedicated to the breast. It is one of the most common topics in our specialty, yet it is unclear which articles have been the most influential. The purpose of this study was to identify the top 100 most-cited articles on breast in the plastic surgery literature and examine the characteristics of each individual article.

A barbed suture repair for flexor tendons: a novel technique with no exposed barbs.

Background: Barbed suture technology has shown promise in flexor tendon repairs, as there is an even distribution of load and the need for a knot is eliminated. We propose that a quick and simple, novel, barbed technique without any exposed barbs on the tendon surface has comparable strength and a smaller cross-sectional area at the repair site than traditional methods of repair.

Methods: Forty porcine flexor tendons were randomized to polybutester 4-strand barbed repair or to 4-strand Adelaide monofilament repair.

An Analysis of the "Classic" Papers in Aesthetic Surgery.

Introduction: Over the past 50 years, there has been a significant increase in published articles in the medical literature. The aesthetic surgery literature is vast, consisting of a plethora of diverse articles written by a myriad of illustrious authors. Despite this considerable archive of published material, it remains nebulous as to which precise papers have had the greatest impact on our specialty.