Success of Bone Ossification After Posterior Vault Distraction Osteogenesis in Patients With Craniosynostosis.

Background: Posterior vault distraction osteogenesis (PVDO) is an effective treatment for multisuture and syndromic craniosynostosis. It remains unclear how well the calvarium ossifies after PVDO, especially in older patients when they have plateaued in their cranial growth phase. The purpose of this study is to report outcomes associated with PVDO across a wide range of ages at our institution.

Reconstructive techniques for chest and breast deformities in Poland syndrome: An up-to-date systematic review.

Background: Poland syndrome (PS) is a congenital abnormality defined as aplasia or hypoplasia of the unilateral pectoralis muscle and breast tissue that may be accompanied by limb or thoracic deformities. Reconstruction of deformities associated with PS is challenging owing to the spectrum of differences. We aimed to evaluate the trends in surgical management of chest and breast anatomical anomalies associated with PS.

Microsurgery in Motion: An Objective Assessment of Microsurgical Skill and Efficiency.

Background:  High levels of precision, as well as controlled, efficient motions, are important components of microsurgical technique and success. An accurate and objective means of skill assessment is lacking in resident microsurgical education. Here we employ three-dimensional, real-time motion-tracking technology to analyze hand and instrument motion during microsurgical anastomoses.

Injectable Estradiol Use in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals in the U.S.: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Context: Guidelines for use of injectable estradiol esters (valerate [EV] and cypionate [EC]) among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals designated male at birth vary considerably, with many providers noting supraphysiologic serum estradiol concentrations based on current dosing recommendations.

Objectives: 1. Determine dose of injectable estradiol (subcutaneous [SC] and intramuscular [IM]) needed to reach guideline-recommended estradiol concentrations for TGD adults using EC/EV.

Increasing Incidence of Facial Nerve Disorders in the United States from 2007 to 2022.

Background: Incidence data on Facial Nerve Disorders (FND) and Bell's palsy are currently limited. Prior epidemiological studies have estimated the incidence rate of Bell's palsy to be between 11 and 53/100,000 individuals, although the most cited incidence data are from single regions or municipalities, many of which are outdated from several decades ago.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of US adults from 2007 to 2022 using the Merative™ Marketscan® Research Databases.

Single-Malt Whisky Versus Cocktail? Approaches to Surgical Lymphedema Management.

Lymphedema is a chronic, dynamic, and multifaceted disease that is effectively treated by surgery. However, there is a lack of consensus in the field about the ideal technique; is it better to perform one surgery type at a time (the "single-malt whisky" approach), or combine different procedures in a single surgery (the "cocktail" approach)? Here, we review advances in these opposing camps, compare outcomes, and discuss potential paradigm shifts in the surgical treatment of lymphedema.

Upconverting microgauges reveal intraluminal force dynamics in vivo.

The forces generated by action potentials in muscle cells shuttle blood, food and waste products throughout the luminal structures of the body. Although non-invasive electrophysiological techniques exist, most mechanosensors cannot access luminal structures non-invasively. Here we introduce non-toxic ingestible mechanosensors to enable the quantitative study of luminal forces and apply them to study feeding in living Caenorhabditis elegans roundworms.

The Perceived Impact of Global Surgery Engagement on Career Advancement among US Medical Students.

Introduction: There is growing interest among medical institutions to formalize global surgery training. Understanding medical students' perceptions of how global surgery engagement can enhance career advancement is essential for providing appropriate guidance and support for individuals with aspirations in academic global surgery.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study of US-based medical students from 38 participating schools was performed.

Evaluating the quality and readability of ChatGPT-generated patient-facing medical information in rhinology.

Purpose: The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT has become a major tool for generating responses in healthcare. This study assessed ChatGPT's ability to generate French preoperative patient-facing medical information (PFI) in rhinology at a comparable level to material provided by an academic source, the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology (Société Française d'Otorhinolaryngologie et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, SFORL).

Methods: ChatGPT and SFORL French preoperative PFI in rhinology were compared by analyzing responses to 16 questions regarding common rhinology procedures: ethmoidectomy, sphenoidotomy, septoplasty, and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

Nasal Obstruction Outcomes in Medial Flap Turbinoplasty and Inferior Turbinate Submucous Resection.

Objectives: To compare longitudinal improvement in nasal obstruction quality-of-life outcomes between medial flap turbinoplasty (MFT) and inferior turbinate submucous resection (SMR) concurrently performed with functional septorhinoplasty.

Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected cohort of patients undergoing functional septorhinoplasty between 2015 and 2022 at a tertiary academic center. Outcomes were assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire preoperatively and over 12 months postoperatively.

Lower Commercial Rates for Breast Surgical Procedures are Associated with Socioeconomic Disadvantage: A Transparency in Coverage Analysis.

Background: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Transparency in Coverage Rule in 2022, which requires payers to disclose commercial rates for the first time in the history of the US healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to characterize payer-disclosed commercial facility rates and examine the relationship with county-level social disadvantage for common breast surgical procedures.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 2023 pricing data for 14 ablative and reconstructive breast procedures from Turquoise Health.

Generating synthetic CT images from unpaired head and neck CBCT images and validating the importance of detailed nasal cavity acquisition through simulations.

Background And Objective: Computed tomography (CT) of the head and neck is crucial for diagnosing internal structures. The demand for substituting traditional CT with cone beam CT (CBCT) exists because of its cost-effectiveness and reduced radiation exposure. However, CBCT cannot accurately depict airway shapes owing to image noise.

Endothelial-specific CXCL12 regulates neovascularization during tissue repair and tumor progression.

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12; Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 [SDF-1]), most notably known for its role in embryogenesis and hematopoiesis, has been implicated in tumor pathophysiology and neovascularization. However, its cell-specific role and mechanism of action have not been well characterized. Previous work by our group has demonstrated that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 modulates downstream CXCL12 expression following ischemic tissue injury.

Near-Normalized Maxillomandibular Relationship and Upper Airway in Infants with Robin Sequence Treated with Stanford Orthodontic Airway Plate: Computed Tomography Study.

Objective: To assess craniofacial and upper airway growth in infants with Robin sequence (RS) during the 1 year of life when their severe upper airway obstruction was treated non-surgically with the Stanford orthodontic airway plate treatment program (SOAP).

Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study comparing SOAP-treated infants with RS (treatment group) with age-matched healthy controls (HC) using computed tomography (CT).

Setting: Single tertiary referral hospital.

Successful Investigational Phage Therapy for Pan-Resistant Bacterial Mediastinitis Following Type II Hybrid Aortic Arch Replacement.

A 47-year-old woman presented to our hospital with Stanford type B aortic dissection with retrograde arch extension. The decision was made to undergo hybrid arch repair with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. The patient underwent surgery, but her intraoperative course was complicated by delayed sternal closure and mediastinitis requiring flap reconstruction.

Managing Asymmetry in Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy-A Systematic Review and Highlight of Clinical Pearls.

As breast reconstruction techniques continue to progress, patient satisfaction with aesthetic outcomes has become an increasingly important marker of success. Obtaining optimal symmetry often requires secondary procedures whether reconstruction is unilateral or bilateral, implant-based or autologous, immediate or delayed. Consequently, determining the ideal method to achieve symmetry, particularly in challenging scenarios, such as the radiated breast, is nuanced and requires experienced decision-making.

Orbital Subperiosteal Abscess Drainage: Transorbital vs. Endonasal Approach.

: This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes of transorbital versus endonasal endoscopic approaches for orbital subperiosteal abscess drainage. : A retrospective review was conducted at a single institution of patients who underwent orbital subperiosteal abscess drainage from November 2009 to April 2023. : Of 64 patients, 44 (68.

Demographic profile of surgical approaches to obstructive sleep apnea in the United States from 2004 to 2020: a descriptive study.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the quantity, types, and trends of surgical procedures used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) within a diverse national population, utilizing a comprehensive proprietary healthcare database.

Methods: This descriptive observational study analyzed longitudinal data from the Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart databases, covering the period from January 2004 to December 2020. The study included patients aged 18 to 89 years, both male and female, with a confirmed diagnosis of OSA.

Evaluating Plastic Surgery Resident Satisfaction Globally: Predictors and Recommendations for Training Enhancement.

Background: Measures of quality in resident training in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) programs are scarce and often methodologically inconsistent. Our research provides insights from current PRS trainees globally, mapping their training inputs, expected outputs, and recommendations for program improvements.

Methods: A global online survey was conducted among PRS residents across 70 countries to gauge their satisfaction with residency training, capturing training inputs such as the number of surgeries attended and seminars they participated in.

Elevated hematopoietic stem cell frequency in mouse alveolar bone marrow.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are crucial for maintaining hematopoietic homeostasis and are localized within distinct bone marrow (BM) niches. While BM niches are often considered similar across different skeletal sites, we discovered that the alveolar BM (al-BM) in the mandible harbors the highest frequency of immunophenotypic HSCs in nine different skeletal sites. Transplantation assays revealed significantly increased engraftment from al-BM compared to femur, tibia, or pelvis BM, likely due to a higher proportion of alveolar HSCs.

Can State Family Support Policies Level the Playing Field for Early-Career Women in Plastic Surgery? An Analysis of Web-Scraped Data.

Background: For the young plastic surgeon, the quantity of first-author peer-reviewed publications plays a prominent role in job offers and promotions. Women surgeons carry a disproportionate share of family responsibilities, contributing to their lower representation in positions of leader- ship and influence. Policies protecting reproductive rights and mandating paid family leave (PFL) boost women's participation and productivity in the workplace.