Understanding the Impact of Ergonomic Practices on Musculoskeletal-Related Symptoms and Emotional Wellness in Craniofacial Surgeons.

Background: A systematic review conducted in 2017 found that Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries were prevalent among surgeons. Few studies have assessed the role that poor surgical ergonomic practices have had in the development of MSK injuries in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS), and fewer specifically in craniofacial surgeons. The impact that MSK injuries have on the emotional well-being of craniofacial surgeons is also not well understood.

Clinically Applied Biomechanics of Mesh-reinforced Ventral Hernia Repair: A Practical Review.

Background: Ventral hernia repair is inherently prone to recurrence. This article is a practical review that summarizes the literature on the biomechanics of ventral hernia repairs to provide clinically applicable, evidence-based recommendations to reduce hernia recurrence.

Methods: A practical review of all relevant literature in PubMed concerning the mechanics of ventral hernia repairs and the forces involved was conducted in August 2023.

The Need for Higher Levels of Evidence in Plastic Surgery.

Background: Evidence-based medicine in plastic surgery is essential to provide optimal care to individual patients. Level of evidence (LOE) and number of citations are metrics used to gauge quality of research and impact within a field, respectively. The objective of this study was to determine an association between LOE and number of citations within recently published articles in (PRS).

Conscientious Objection to Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Plastic Surgery and Urology Residency Programs.

Objective: Medical conscientious objection is a federally protected right of physicians to refuse participation in medically indicated services or research activities that are incompatible with their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. Individual provider objections to gender-affirming surgery have been documented, however the prevalence of such objections is unknown. Our study aimed to characterize physician objections to gender-affirming surgery in plastic surgery and urology residencies and to assess related institutional policies.

Knot Security 101: A Comprehensive Practical Review to Optimal Knot Configuration, Pulling Direction, Throw Count, and Tail Length.

Background: Knots are the weakest structural point in a suture line and inevitably weaken almost all suture materials. This practical review critically evaluates the factors, such as suture material properties, gauge, configuration, throw count, and tail length, that affect knot security.

Methods: A PubMed search between the years 1934 and 2023 identified relevant studies that addressed factors relating to knot security.

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.

An Update on the Independent Plastic Surgery Match (2019-2022): Trends, Predictors, and Program Leaders' Perspectives.

Background: A previous study by the authors noted a decline in independent plastic surgery residency programs and rising applicant participation. This study provides updates on match trends and influential predictors, and gathers program leaders' views on the future of the independent track.

Methods: Match data (2019-2022) were obtained from the San Francisco match after American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgery approval.

Comparison of Medical Research Abstracts Written by Surgical Trainees and Senior Surgeons or Generated by Large Language Models.

Importance: Artificial intelligence (AI) has permeated academia, especially OpenAI Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT), a large language model. However, little has been reported on its use in medical research.

Objective: To assess a chatbot's capability to generate and grade medical research abstracts.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) presents significant challenges in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, impacting patient outcomes and well-being. Understanding its prevalence and associated factors is crucial for effective patient care. (2) Methods: A systematic review of national and international databases on body dysmorphic disorder, plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery, and prevalence yielded 999 studies between 1878 and April 2024.

The Law of Diminishing Returns in the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Match: A Deeper Look at the Numbers.

Background: The highly competitive nature of the integrated plastic surgery residency match justifies the need for objective data that provide insights into some of the residents' selection criteria. Many studies have sought to provide information on these criteria, but to our knowledge, none has described the inflection point where the match probability does not further increase. Although our study provides this information to potential applicants, it will also help them assess and optimize their chances of a successful match.

Use of Muscle Relaxants for Acute Postoperative Pain: A Practical Review.

Background: Skeletal muscle relaxants have emerged as a broad category of analgesic adjuncts, aiming to improve pain relief and reduce opioid reliance. These drugs induce muscle relaxation and reduce muscle spasms, and therefore, they are commonly used in surgical procedures involving muscle manipulation, such as abdominal surgery, breast surgery, and spine surgery. However, their analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effects are poorly explored.

Blepharoplasty Online: Critical Analysis of Content and Patient Comprehensibility.

Introduction: Patients frequently turn to online information for decision-making factors about aesthetic procedures. The quality of online medical content is an essential supplement to clinical education. These resources assist patients in understanding the risks, benefits, and appropriateness of their desired procedure.

Improving Readability and Automating Content Analysis of Plastic Surgery Webpages With ChatGPT.

Introduction: The quality and readability of online health information are sometimes suboptimal, reducing their usefulness to patients. Manual evaluation of online medical information is time-consuming and error-prone. This study automates content analysis and readability improvement of private-practice plastic surgery webpages using ChatGPT.

Neural Interconnections of Extracranial Nerves in Headache Surgery: Anatomical Landmarks and Clinical Implications: A Review of the Literature.

Headache disorders (HDs) remain a nationwide challenge for the US health care system, affecting nearly 60% of the US population. Surgical deactivation of the peripheral trigger site, also referred to as headache surgery, represents an effective treatment for patients with refractory HD pain or nonresponse to pharmacologic regimens. Research stemming from other surgical specialties has underlined the clinical relevance of neural interconnections in refining diagnostic algorithms, adapting surgical techniques, and improving overall patient outcomes.

Assessing the Influence of Intraoperative Core Body Temperature on Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism after Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a dangerous postoperative complication after abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). Intraoperative core body temperature has been associated with thrombotic events in other surgical contexts. This study examines the effects of intraoperative temperature on VTE rate after AWR.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Perioperative Allergic Complications: A Practical Review.

Background: Reported drug allergies are commonly encountered by surgeons and can lead to uncertainty in selecting an appropriate agent due to concerns of associated risks with related and cross-reactive drugs. This uncertainty can ultimately lead to increased infection rates.

Methods: A literature review was conducted in PubMed using a combination of the terms "allergy," "allergic reaction," "anaphylaxis," and "surgery," "surgical," or "operating room" for articles published within the last 10 years.

The Plastic Surgery Central Application versus ERAS: Which is Preferred?

Background: The Plastic Surgery Central Application (PSCA), designed to provide an equitable and streamlined application for both applicants and programs, was first designed in 2019, piloted in the 2020-21 application cycle, and is now in its fourth cycle in 2023-24. It has included preference signaling since the 2022-23 cycle, a feature in which applicants can send five "signals" to programs to express interest. We surveyed both program directors (PDs) and applicants following the 2023 match on their perceptions of PSCA versus Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Year-Over-Year Ventral Hernia Recurrence Rates and Risk Factors.

Importance: Recurrence is one of the most challenging adverse events after ventral hernia repair as it impacts quality of life, utilization of resources, and subsequent need for re-repair. Rates of recurrence range from 30% to 80% after ventral hernia repair.

Objective: To determine the contemporary ventral hernia recurrence rate over time in patients with previous hernia repair and to determine risk factors associated with recurrence.

Mesh Strip Repair for Midline Ventral Hernias: A Case Series.

Background: Polypropylene mesh strip repair is a novel method of hernia closure. Currently, there is limited representation in the literature regarding both the reproducibility of this method and its outcomes. The present study sought to analyze a second institution's experience with fascial closure using the mesh strip technique with long-term follow-up.

Assessing the Relationship between Obesity and Trigger Point-specific Outcomes after Headache Surgery.

Background: Trigger point deactivation surgery is a safe and effective treatment for properly selected patients experiencing migraine, with 68.3%-100% experiencing symptom improvement postoperatively. However, it is still unknown why certain patients do not respond.

Practical Review on the Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Compartment Syndrome.

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a limb-threatening pathology that necessitates early detection and management. The diagnosis of ACS is often made by physical examination alone; however, supplemental methods such as compartment pressure measurement, infrared spectroscopy, and ultrasound can provide additional information that support decision-making. This practical review aims to incorporate and summarize recent studies to provide evidence-based approaches to compartment syndrome for both resource-rich and -poor settings among several patient populations.

Secondary Trigger Point Deactivation Surgery for Nerve Compression Headaches: A Scoping Review.

Background: Primary trigger point deactivation surgery has been successful in reducing or eliminating nerve compression headaches between 79% and 90% of the time. The aim of this review article was to discuss the factors that contribute to index trigger point deactivation surgery failure, the importance of reevaluating trigger points following failure, and the options for secondary surgery.

Methods: A literature search was performed using a combination of keywords involving "chronic headache" and "nerve deactivation surgery," in databases until February 2023.