Clinical Practice Patterns and Evidence-Based Medicine in Blepharoplasty: A 15-Year Review of Continuous Certification Tracer Data from the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Introduction: The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) Continuous Certification tracer data on blepharoplasty offers valuable information on national trends in clinical practice. The present study was performed to analyze evolving trends in blepharoplasty and compare practice patterns to Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) publications within the same timeframe.

Methods: Tracer data for blepharoplasty procedures performed by ABPS-certified surgeons between 2005 and 2020 was analyzed.

Reducing drain use with paraspinal muscle flaps for spinal closures: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Paraspinal muscle (PSM) flaps can be mobilized with superficial undermining and lateral release from the thoracolumbar fascia and/or deep undermining and medial release from the transverse processes and ribs. The objective of the study was to compare the effect of the PSM flap technique on drain use, retention, and complication rates.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who underwent spinal coverage with PSM flaps at a single institution from April 2020 to June 2021.

The microbiome of the neovagina: a systematic review and comparison of surgical techniques.

: Vaginoplasty is performed to create a neovagina for transgender individuals who seek surgical transition or for cisgender individuals with congenital or acquired absence of a vagina (or "cisvagina"). The current knowledge of the bacterial microenvironment of the neovagina is limited. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of current knowledge regarding the microbiome of the neovagina in transgender women.

Changes in Subspecialty Interest of Plastic Surgery Residents With Progression of Training: Impact on Academic Attrition.

Background: Plastic surgery residency applicants often express interest in academic subspecialties, but only a small percentage of graduating residents pursue academic careers. Identifying reasons for academic attrition may help training programs address this discrepancy.

Methods: A survey was sent to plastic surgery residents through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Resident Council to assess interest in 6 plastic surgery subspecialties during junior and senior years of training.

The Personal Impact of Involvement in International Global Health Outreach: A National Survey of Former Operation Smile Student Volunteers.

Background: Humanitarian surgical organizations such as Operation Smile provide global health opportunities for students and medical trainees. Prior studies have shown a positive benefit for medical trainees. This study aimed to determine if the international global health experiences of young student volunteers impact their career choices as adults.

Telemedicine for Gender-Affirming Medical and Surgical Care: A Systematic Review and Call-to-Action.

Telemedicine has facilitated the delivery of affordable and accessible health care. However, little has been discussed about its use in gender-affirming care (GAC). Telemedicine has the potential to overcome many barriers encountered by transgender individuals such as limited geographic access to care and financial constraints, which have both been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Predictors of Adverse Outcomes Following Cleft Palate Repair: An Analysis of Over 2500 Patients Using International Smile Train Data.

Objective: The objective of this study was to use data from Smile Train's global partner hospital network to identify patient characteristics that increase odds of fistula and postoperative speech outcomes.

Design: Multi-institution, retrospective review of Smile Train Express database.

Setting: 1110 Smile Train partner hospitals.

Secondary Cleft Rhinoplasty: A National Survey of Surgical Practice by Accredited Cleft Palate Teams.

Unlabelled: Patients with cleft lip often undergo a primary rhinoplasty at the time of lip repair, and further surgical correction with secondary cleft rhinoplasty (SCR) is often warranted for improved form and function. The purpose of this study was to better elucidate current practice patterns and trends for how SCR is performed in the United States.

Methods: We administered a survey to team surgeons affiliated with cleft lip and palate care teams approved by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA).

Dog Ears in Wound Closure: Can They Be Minimized?

Conical deformities found at the apices of incisions after wound closure represent tissue redundancy, commonly known as "dog ears." The amount of tissue excess is related to the geometry of the incision, surrounding skin elasticity, and tension of closure. Experience with tissue handling shows that some dog ears do "settle" or resolve with time; such cases occur when local tissue has high skin elasticity, the dog ears are small in height, and tension on the line of closure is low.

A Comparison of Outcomes of Proximal and Distal Anastomosis Sites of the Facial Artery in Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Recipient vessel selection in head and neck reconstruction is based on multiple factors, including defect size and location, patient history, and vessel location, diameter, and length. The authors present a comparison of proximal and distal anastomotic sites of the facial artery. A chart review of head and neck reconstructions using the facial artery as a recipient vessel over a 7-year period was conducted.

Ethical and Legal Considerations Regarding Parenthood in Transgender Patients Following Uterine Transplant.

In modern society, acceptance of gender diversity and fluidity is increasing; however, parenthood is still largely considered to be a binary construct. A hypothetical case of a transgender woman who undergoes uterus transplant and carries a pregnancy conceived with her own sperm is presented. This situation raises unique ethical and legal issues regarding the parental designation of the transgender woman.

The Feasibility of Cross-Linguistic Speech Evaluation in the Care of International Cleft Palate Patients.

Many patients with cleft palate in developing countries never receive postoperative speech assessment or therapy. The use of audiovisual recordings could improve access to post-repair speech care. The present study evaluated whether English-speaking speech-language pathologists (SLPs) could assess cleft palate patients speaking an unfamiliar language (Tamil) using recorded media.

Routes to Residency: A National Survey Demonstrating the Pathways to Become a Plastic Surgeon.

Unlabelled: Plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) residency training can be completed through multiple pathways. Current residents' experiences regarding these different routes have not been previously described. The objective of the present study was to describe the educational pathways taken by current PRS residents in the United States.

Do Dedicated Research Years during Medical School Predict Academic Productivity during Residency?

Background: Evidence regarding whether medical school research portends resident research is limited. This information will provide program directors with data that may be useful for selecting applicants with a commitment to continued academic productivity.

Methods: A questionnaire distributed via the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Resident Council to residents in 44 plastic surgery training programs in May 2020 assessed participation in dedicated research years during medical school, the number of publications completed before residency, and the total number of publications by each resident at the time of the survey.

Staying Close to Home: The Effects of COVID-19 on the Plastic Surgery Residency Match.

Unlabelled: The 2019 novel coronavirus created unique challenges for the integrated plastic surgery match. The goal of this study was to evaluate the trends of the 2020 and 2021 integrated plastic surgery match specifically related to the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Methods: Three separate individual surveys were designed for integrated plastic surgery program directors and applicants from the 2021 to 2020 match.

Outcomes of Tibial Nerve Repair and Transfer: A Structured Evidence-Based Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Although nerve transfer and repair are well-established for treatment of nerve injury in the upper extremity, there are no established parameters for when or which treatment modalities to utilize for tibial nerve injuries. The objective of our study is to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of end-to-end repair, neurolysis, nerve grafting, and nerve transfer in improving motor function after tibial nerve injury. PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, and Embase libraries were queried according to the PRISMA guidelines for articles that present functional outcomes after tibial nerve injury in humans treated with nerve transfer or repair.

Doctority: Plastic Surgery-An Informative Podcast for Applicants to Learn about Plastic Surgery Training Programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic limited the ability of medical students to participate in plastic surgery sub-internships and to attend residency interviews in person during the 2020-2021 match cycle. A podcast and accompanying online directory were created to introduce integrated plastic surgery residency programs to medical students from the perspective of current residents. Since July 2020, a total of 49 plastic surgery residents representing 42 programs have participated in the podcast.

Considerations for resuming global surgery outreach programs during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of safe surgical care worldwide. One specific aspect of global surgical care that has been severely limited is the ability for physicians and trainees to participate in global surgical outreach programs in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: A narrative review of the literature regarding global surgical outreach programs during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was performed.