The Presence of Predatory and Open Access Journal Publications Among Canadian Plastic Surgery Residency Applicants.

As scientific publishing has transitioned online, open access and predatory publishers have surged. This study describes the frequency of publications in potentially predatory and open access journals among applicants to a Canadian plastic surgery residency program, and explores applicant characteristics associated with open access and predatory publishing. A retrospective review of plastic surgery resident applicants' curriculum vitae (CVs) from 2015 to 2018 was performed.

Level of evidence in high impact surgical literature: the way forward.

Evidence-based medicine stipulates that clinical decision-making should revolve around scientific evidence. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the methodological quality of surgical research recently published in JAMA Surgery, International Journal of Surgery, and British Journal of Surgery, the three surgical journals with the highest impact factor. An electronic search of the PUBMED database was performed to retrieve all articles published in the JAMA Surgery, International Journal of Surgery, and British Journal of Surgery in the year 2022.

Successful Applicant and Program Director Perspectives on the Virtual Residency Selection Process for Canadian Surgical Subspecialties.

The COVID-19 pandemic imparted an important shift in strategies postgraduate surgical programs use to recruit, interact with, and select medical students applying through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). With this unprecedented shift toward virtual applicant selection, this study sought to explore and analyze perspectives of the first cohort of program directors (PDs) and applicants who participated in this process. A cross-sectional survey study was designed using Google Forms for both PDs and applicants participating in the 2021 CaRMS surgical subspecialty selection process.

A Procedure and Complication-Specific Assessment of Smoking in Aesthetic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The popularity of aesthetic surgery is on the rise, as is patients' expectations towards excellent surgical results. In order to meet these expectations, risk factors that hinder desired outcomes, such as smoking, need to be identified and addressed. To that end, the present study summarizes an updated systematic review focused on the effects of smoking on cosmetic surgical procedures and outcomes.

Revisiting Level of Evidence Ratings in Plastic Surgery: A Call to Action.

Background: Evidence-based medicine underpins medical and surgical practice, with level of evidence (LOE) being a key aspect that allows clinicians and researchers to better discriminate the methodological context by which studies are conducted and appropriately interpret their conclusions, and more specifically the strength of their recommendations.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to reassess the LOE of articles published in plastic surgery journals.

Methods: To assess the overall LOE of publications from January 1 to December 31, 2021, a review of the following plastic surgery journals was performed: Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASJ), Annals of Plastic Surgery (Annals), Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (JRPAS), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS), and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open (PRS GO).

The Fragility of Landmark Randomized Controlled Trials in the Plastic Surgery Literature.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are integral to the progress of evidenced-based medicine and help guide changes in the standards of care. Although results are traditionally evaluated according to their corresponding value, the universal utility of this statistical metric has been called into question. The fragility index (FI) has been developed as an adjunct method to provide additional statistical perspective.

Gender Equality in Plastic Surgery Training: A Canadian Nationwide Cross-sectional Analysis.

One of the important factors in achieving gender equity is ensuring equitable surgical training for all. Previous studies have shown that females get significantly lower surgical exposure than males in certain surgical specialties. Gender gap in surgical exposure has never been assessed in plastic surgery.

Practical Review on Delayed Primary Closure: Basic Science and Clinical Applications.

Wound healing complications present a significant burden on both patients and health-care systems, and understanding wound healing principles is crucial across medical and surgical specialties to help mitigate such complications. One of these longstanding principles, specifically delayed primary closure (DPC), described as mechanically closing a wound after several days of secondary intention healing, lacks clear consensus on its definition, indications, and outcomes. This practical review examines wound healing fundamentals, focusing on DPC, its execution, indications, and comparative outcomes.

Comparing Migraine Headache Index versus Monthly Migraine Days after Headache Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Nerve deactivation surgery for the treatment of migraine has evolved rapidly over the past 2 decades. Studies typically report changes in migraine frequency (attacks/month), attack duration, attack intensity, and their composite score-the Migraine Headache Index-as primary outcomes. However, the neurology literature predominantly reports migraine prophylaxis outcomes as change in monthly migraine days (MMD).

The Positive and Negative Predictive Value of Targeted Diagnostic Botox Injection in Nerve Decompression Migraine Surgery.

Background: Nerve decompression surgery is an effective treatment modality for patients who experience migraines. Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections have been traditionally used as a method to identify trigger sites; however, there is a paucity in data regarding its diagnostic efficacy. The goal of this study was to assess the diagnostic capacity of Botox in successfully identifying migraine trigger sites and predicting surgical success.

Dissecting Medical Litigation: An Analysis of Canadian Legal Cases in Plastic Surgery.

Plastic surgeons are more likely to face medical litigation, compared to other specialists. Although this has been previously studied in other countries, there is a paucity of data regarding legal medical cases within Canada. The goal of this study was to compile and analyze all medical litigations in plastic surgery in Canada and identify themes associated them.

Outcomes Associated with Moberg and Modified Moberg Flaps in Thumb Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

Appropriate thumb function is critical as it is makes up approximately 40% of the hand's function leading to the greatest influence in activities of daily living (ADLs). Local flaps are the primary option for thumb reconstruction, of which the Moberg flap has been reported to have the added advantage of its advancement capacity relative to other flaps. This systematic review aims to describe the outcomes of the Moberg advancement flap and its associated modifications for coverage of palmar thumb defects.

Revisiting the Role of Occipital Artery Resection in Greater Occipital Nerve Decompression.

Background: Greater occipital nerve surgery has been shown to improve headaches caused by nerve compression. There is a paucity of data, however, specifically regarding the efficacy of concomitant occipital artery resection. To that end, the goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of greater occipital nerve decompression with and without occipital artery resection.

Increasing Collaboration between Headache Medicine and Plastic Surgery in the Surgical Management of Chronic Headache.

Introduction: Chronic headache is one of the most disabling conditions afflicting humankind. The management of chronic headaches has, to date, been only partially successful. The goal of this paper is to highlight the importance of collaboration between surgeons and headache physicians in treating this condition.

The Presence of Ghost Publications Among Canadian Plastic Surgery Residency Applicants: How Honest Are Canadians?

Background: Physicians with history of unprofessional behaviour during their medical training are shown to be 3 times more likely to have board disciplinary action later in their career. One realm in which unprofessional behaviour takes place is the phenomenon of unverifiable publications or "ghost publications." To that end, this study aims to assess the rate of ghost publications among a recent cohort of Canadian Plastic Surgery residency applicants to determine if this phenomenon is geographic in nature.

The effects of COVID-19 on Canadian surgical residents' education and wellness.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care systems. We sought to comprehend the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical residents' education and mental well-being across Canada.

Methods: An online 51-question survey was distributed to surgical residents across all 17 Canadian post- graduate surgical residency programs.

Open Versus Laparoscopic Surgical Management of Rectus Diastasis: Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Complications and Recurrence Rates.

Background: Rectus diastasis (RD) is defined as widening of the linea alba and laxity of the abdominal muscles. It can be treated via a wide array of both conservative and surgical modalities. Due to the quickly evolving nature of this field coupled with the multiple novel surgical modalities described recently, there is a need for an updated review of surgical techniques and a quantitative analysis of complications and recurrence rates.

Efficacy and Safety of Migraine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Outcomes and Complication Rates.

Objective: The objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve surgery for migraine headaches and to bibliometrically analyze all anatomical studies relevant to migraine surgery.

Summary Background Data: Migraines rank as the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite the availability of conservative management options, individuals suffer from refractive migraines which are associated with poor quality of life.

Pyrocarbon Arthroplasty Implants in the Upper Extremity: A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Pooled Analysis of Complications.

Background: Growing use of pyrocarbon implants in upper extremity arthroplasty has culminated in a breadth of literature ascertaining outcomes and complications at long-term follow-up. However, at present, the literature remains devoid of studies synthesizing the available evidence for upper extremity surgeons to adequately assess the safety and utility of these implants relative to other available options.

Methods: A systematic search of the National Library of Medicine, MEDLINE, and Embase databases was performed to determine clinical outcomes and complication and reoperation rates following pyrocarbon arthroplasties in the upper extremity.

Letter to the Editor: The Case for Publicly Funded Headache Surgery in Germany.

Headache surgery has become a considerable therapeutic option in headache treatment and is of rising interest in the German medical sector. This viewpoint outlines the need for reimbursement of headache surgery in the German healthcare system and demonstrates its cost-effectiveness. Using state-of-the-art patient selection algorithms, the authors found headache surgery to be cost-effective within 7.