Optimizing the Aesthetic Result of Parotidectomy with a Facelift Incision and Temporoparietal Fascia Flap.

The 3 most common problems after a parotidectomy are cheek contour deformity, Frey syndrome (gustatory sweating), and a visible scar on the neck. These problems can potentially be prevented by (1) facelift type incisions, which eliminate the neck incision and (2) interposition of temporoparietal fascia at the parotidectomy site that fills the defect and provides a barrier to aberrant neuronal regeneration. We followed 11 patients who underwent parotidectomy (9 superficial and 2 total parotidectomies) for a variety of parotid tumors between December 2001 and January 2018.

What Do Plastic Surgery Patients Think of Financial Conflicts of Interest and the Sunshine Act?

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients' views of conflicts of interest (COI) and their comprehension of recent legislation known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. This report constitutes the first evaluation of plastic surgery patients' views on COI and the government-mandated Sunshine Act.

Methods: This cross-sectional study invited patients at an academic, general plastic surgery outpatient clinic to complete an anonymous survey.

Plastic Surgeons' Perceptions of Financial Conflicts of Interest and the Sunshine Act.

Background: It is unknown whether recent legislation known as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act has affected plastic surgeons' views of conflicts of interest (COI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate plastic surgeons' beliefs about COI and their comprehension of the government-mandated Sunshine Act.

Methods: Plastic surgeon members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons were invited to complete an electronic survey.

The Accuracy of Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures Reported by Plastic Surgeons and Industry.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency and nature of self-reported conflict-of-interest disclosures in the plastic surgery literature and to compare these findings to the Physician Payments Sunshine Act database.

Methods: All articles published from August of 2013 through December of 2013 in four major plastic surgery journals were analyzed. For every publication, the conflict-of-interest disclosure statement for each investigator was reviewed.

Trends, Frequency, and Nature of Surgeon-Reported Conflicts of Interest in Plastic Surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify types and trends in industry sponsorship of plastic surgery research since the establishment of conflict-of-interest reporting policies in plastic surgery.

Methods: The authors analyzed the frequency and types of self-reported conflicts of interest in the plastic surgery literature since the adoption of reporting policies in 2007. All original articles that met the authors' inclusion criteria and were published in the following three journals from 2008 to 2013 were included: Annals of Plastic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.

Is Article Methodological Quality Associated With Conflicts of Interest?: An Analysis of the Plastic Surgery Literature.

Purpose: Conflicts of interest (COI) are an emerging area of discussion within the field of plastic surgery. Recently, several reports have found that research studies that disclose COI are associated with publication of positive outcomes. We hypothesize that this association is driven by higher-quality studies receiving industry funding.

The Dawn of Transparency: Insights from the Physician Payment Sunshine Act in Plastic Surgery.

Background: The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PSSA) is a government initiative that requires all biomedical companies to publicly disclose payments to physicians through the Open Payments Program (OPP). The goal of this study was to use the OPP database and evaluate all nonresearch-related financial transactions between plastic surgeons and biomedical companies.

Methods: Using the first wave of OPP data published on September 30, 2014, we studied the national distribution of industry payments made to plastic surgeons during a 5-month period.

Citation Rate Predictors in the Plastic Surgery Literature.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine and characterize the scientific and nonscientific factors that influence the rate of article citation in the field of plastic surgery.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: We reviewed all entries in Annals of Plastic Surgery and Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007; and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.

The Impact of Financial Conflicts of Interest in Plastic Surgery: Are They All Created Equal?

Background: Recently, several studies have demonstrated that articles that disclose conflicts of interests (COI) are associated with publication of positive results. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the different types of COI as they relate to the general topic of COI in plastic surgery. Specifically, we aimed to examine whether different types of COI are more likely than others to be associated with the presentation of positive findings.

Does Formal Research Training Lead to Academic Success in Plastic Surgery? A Comprehensive Analysis of U.S. Academic Plastic Surgeons.

Introduction: It is currently unknown whether formal research training has an influence on academic advancement in plastic surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether formal research training was associated with higher research productivity, academic rank, and procurement of extramural National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in plastic surgery, comparing academic surgeons who completed said research training with those without.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of full-time academic plastic surgeons in the United States.

Financial Conflicts of Interest: An Association between Funding and Findings in Plastic Surgery.

Background: Despite a growing interest in examining the effects of industry funding on research in plastic surgery, no study to date has comprehensively examined the effects of financial conflicts of interest on publication outcomes. The authors investigated the association between financial conflicts of interest and reported study findings in plastic surgery research.

Methods: The authors reviewed all entries in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Annals of Plastic Surgery, and Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012.

What Effect Does Self-Citation Have on Bibliometric Measures in Academic Plastic Surgery?

Background: Research productivity plays a significant role in academic promotions. Currently, various bibliometric measures utilizing citation counts are used to judge an author's work. With increasing numbers of journals, numbers of open access publications, ease of online submission, and expedited indexing of accepted manuscripts, it is plausible that an author could influence his/her own bibliometric measures through self-citation.

What Made Them Successful: An Introspective Survey of AAPS Members.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess which personal characteristics and external factors are important contributors to eventual success.

Methods: The authors distributed a survey to all members of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons and asked responders to rate the importance of 10 preselected qualities in contributing to their personal success. Survey outcomes were analyzed across different demographic groups.

An evaluation of plastic surgery resident selection factors.

Objective: Our purpose was to provide a metric by which evaluation criteria are prioritized during resident selection. In this study, we assessed which residency applicant qualities are deemed important by members of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS).

Methods: A survey was distributed to all 580 AAPS members, and 295 responded to rate the importance of resident metrics, including measures of competency and personal characteristics.

The impact of conflicts of interest in plastic surgery: an analysis of acellular dermal matrix, implant-based breast reconstruction.

Background: Although conflicts of interest in biomedical research have received significant attention, the impact of conflicts of interest on surgical outcomes has not been fully explored.

Methods: A systematic electronic search of the literature was performed for studies that evaluated surgical outcomes in acellular dermal matrix and non-acellular dermal matrix implant-based breast reconstruction. Surgical complications, including infection, seroma, hematoma, necrosis, and explantation, were used as outcome metrics and extracted from studies.

Postoperative complications in prosthesis-based breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix.

Background: Acellular dermal matrix has become a common adjunct in prosthesis-based breast reconstruction. The authors' aim was to determine whether acellular dermal matrix use in immediate prosthesis-based breast reconstruction is associated with higher rate of complications.

Methods: Over a 5½-year period at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, 470 postmastectomy defects were reconstructed immediately using tissue expanders or implants.

Randomized controlled trials in plastic surgery: a 20-year review of reporting standards, methodologic quality, and impact.

Background: Randomized controlled trials in plastic surgery have not been analyzed comprehensively. We analyzed plastic surgical randomized controlled trials with respect to reporting standards, methodologic quality, and impact on the specialty.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials published from 1986 to 2006 in three major plastic surgery journals were scored for quality and impact using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist, the Jadad criteria, citation numbers, and other parameters.

Microvascular free tissue transfer in organ transplantation patients: is it safe?

Background: Traditionally, organ transplantation has been synonymous with patients with poor prognosis and outcome. Surgeons felt that the risks posed by immunosuppressive drugs outweighed the benefits of non-life-threatening procedures. With the enormous advances in the field of organ transplantation, a growing number of transplant patients present for a variety of surgical procedures.

Breast augmentation after reduction mammaplasty: getting the size right.

Although patients are typically satisfied after reduction mammaplasty, a subgroup later deems the volume of remaining breast tissue inadequate and presents for breast enhancement. Our purpose was to identify patient and procedural risk factors that may contribute to an over-reduced breast and the desire for breast augmentation after initial reduction. Seven patients were identified who had breast augmentation an average of 13 years after breast reduction.

Incidence of hematoma complication with heparin venous thrombosis prophylaxis after TRAM flap breast reconstruction.

Background: Randomized controlled studies provide ample evidence that heparin is effective in reducing the risk of thromboembolic complications. Nevertheless, plastic surgeons are often reluctant to use heparin chemoprophylaxis for fear of postoperative bleeding. The authors investigated whether heparin chemoprophylaxis was associated with postoperative hematoma that required evacuation in patients who underwent transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction.