Preserving the Legitimacy of Board Certification.

Objectives: The aims of this discussion were to inform the medical community about the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery's ongoing attempts in Louisiana to achieve equivalency to American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards so that its diplomates may use the term "board certified" in advertising and to ensure public safety by upholding the standards for medical board certification.

Background: In 2011, Louisiana passed a truth in medical advertising law, which was intended to protect the public by prohibiting the use of the term "board certified" by improperly credentialed physicians. An American Board of Cosmetic Surgery diplomate petitioned the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to approve a rule that would establish a pathway to equivalency for non-ABMS member boards, whose diplomates have not completed training approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in the specialty they are certifying.

Clinical case of the month. A 63-year-old woman with lumbago. Eikenella corrodens.

We present a case of facet joint infection (pyogenic facetitis) due to Eikenella corrodens, diagnosed by physical examination, radiography, positive blood cultures, and response to antibiotic therapy. E. corrodens is a very rare cause of spine infection.

Improving education under work-hour restrictions: comparing learning and teaching preferences of faculty, residents, and students.

Background: Faced with work-hour restrictions, educators are mandated to improve the efficiency of resident and medical student education. Few studies have assessed learning styles in medicine; none have compared teaching and learning preferences. Validated tools exist to study these deficiencies.

Evaluation of preoperative risk factors and complication rates in cosmetic breast surgery.

To assess the relationships between body mass index, smoking, and diabetes and postoperative complications after cosmetic breast surgery, based on patient claims made to CosmetAssure, a program which provides coverage for treatment of significant complications, which might not be reimbursed by patients' health insurance carriers. Complication rates of cosmetic breast operations were reviewed from 13,475 consecutive patients between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. Correlations between complication rates and risk factors of body mass index > or =30, smoking, and diabetes were analyzed.

Comparison of tensile strength of resorbable plating systems used in monocortical mandible angle osteotomy repair.

Objective: To determine the usefulness of resorbable plating systems in load-bearing applications of the mandible and the location of critical failure.

Methods: An osteotomy was created in 24 fresh cadaveric mandibles at the angle and fixated by the Champy technique with similar resorbable craniofacial plating systems from 4 manufacturers. Each mandible was held rigid as a material test system applied a downward force anteriorly.