Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: Limb-sparing treatment of extremity soft tissue sarcomas requires wide resections and radiation therapy. The resulting complex composite defects necessitate reconstructions using either muscle or fasciocutaneous flaps, often in irradiated wound beds. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of all limb-sparing soft tissue sarcoma resections requiring immediate flap reconstruction from 2012 through 2016. RESULTS:< 0.048). At time of follow-up, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores for fasciocutaneous and muscle-based reconstructions, with or without radiation, showed no significant differences between groups (mean [SD]: 91% [8%] vs. 89% [13%]). CONCLUSIONS: The similar complication rates and functional outcomes in this study support the safety and efficacy of both fasciocutaneous flaps and muscle-based flaps in reconstructing limb-sparing sarcoma resection defects, with or without radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND:The Gustilo classification serves as a proxy for injury severity, but recent data suggest rising complications with decreasing arterial runoff. This study aims to compare different microsurgical anastomosis options based on the number of patent vessels in the lower extremity. METHODS:A single-center retrospective review of 806 lower extremity free flaps performed from 1976 to 2016 was performed. Patients with Gustilo type IIIB injuries were grouped based on the number of patent vessels in the leg (three, two, or one). Patients were compared based on the type of anastomosis performed, evaluating for perioperative complications and flap failures. RESULTS:Perioperative complications occurred in 111 flaps (27 percent): 71 take-backs (17 percent), 45 partial losses (11 percent), and 37 complete losses (9 percent). Among patients with three-vessel runoff (61.8 percent), there was no difference in take-backs or flap loss between those with end-to-end versus end-to-side anastomoses. In 68 patients (18.7 percent) with two-vessel runoff, no difference between take-backs or flap loss was noted when comparing any anastomosis (i.e., end-to-end into an injured vessel, end-to-end into an uninjured vessel, or end-to-side into an uninjured vessel), although vein grafts were required more often in the end-to-side groups (p < 0.01). Finally, in 39 patients (10.7 percent) with single-vessel runoff, no difference was seen between end-to-end anastomosis into an injured vessel or end-to-side anastomosis into an uninjured vessel in terms of take-backs or flap loss. CONCLUSION:Higher rates of flap failure correlated with decreasing numbers of patent vessels in the leg, but neither type of microvascular anastomosis nor vessel selection demonstrated any impact on reconstructive outcomes. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Therapeutic, III.

Background/Purpose: Knowledge of cleft lip (CL) surgical markings is essential prior to performing the repair. Work hours restrictions, increased patient care documentation time, and requests by patients not to have trainees involved in their care are limiting the acquisition of this skill in the operating room. Textbooks provide 2-dimensional illustrations of CL markings; while the cost of 3-dimensional (3D) printed CL models prohibit their widespread utilization for this purpose. We propose 3D stone models as simple and affordable tools to teach surgical trainees unilateral CL markings. Methods/Description: Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression material was used to create a negative of a patient with unilateral CL. Snapstone mixed with water was poured into the PVS impression to create unilateral CL stone models. Eleven plastic surgery residents were prospectively recruited in the study. They were provided with a textbook chapter and online module detailing surgical markings for unilateral CL repair, and were given 15 minutes of study time, before providing them with a unilateral CL stone model for performing the CL markings within 10 minutes. The participants were then provided with a standardized patient photograph for the same purpose. Learner satisfaction with the stone model and patient photograph as educational tools for learning surgical markings were evaluated using a modified survey based on the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ) survey, a validated tool for measuring higher education student satisfaction. Learner satisfactions with each tool were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test.
Result(s): The total production time of one stone model, including the PVS impression, was 10 minutes. The cost of one PVS impression and one stone model were 64 and 83 cents respectively, for a total of $1.47. Participants reported that when compared to the standardized patient photograph, the stone model was more stimulating (4.72 +/- 0.47 vs 3.82+/-0.87; U = 25.5; P = .01), increased their interest in the subject (4.63 +/- 0.50 vs 3.45 +/- 1.29; U = 26.5; P = .02), allowed better learning of the subject matter (4.54 +/- 0.52 vs 2.91 +/- 0.83; U = 5.0; P < .001), had greater clarity (4.64 +/- 0.50 vs 3.00 +/- 0.89; U = 6.0; P < .001), and was a more effective means of teaching CL markings (4.73 +/- 0.47 vs 2.91 +/- 1.04; U = 6.0; P < .001). Participants were also more likely to recommend the stone model (4.82+/-0.40) over the standardized patient photograph (3.00 +/- 1.10; U = 5.0; P < .001).
Conclusion(s): 3D stone models of the unilateral cleft lip deformity are affordable and simple to produce. Plastic surgery residents report that these models are superior training tools to learn cleft lip markings compared to patient photographs. These educational tools have the potential to overcome significant financial, logistic, and time constraints in teaching cleft lip surgery markings

BACKGROUND:Since the inception of the integrated model, educational leaders have predicted its ongoing evolution, as the optimal plastic surgery curriculum remains a source of debate. With the now complete elimination of the "coordinated" pathway, the total number of integrated programs has arguably reached a plateau. As such, this study examines the current state of training in integrated residencies and re-evaluates the variability in the first 3 years of training observed previously. METHODS:Program information was obtained for all 68 integrated plastic surgery programs, of which rotation schedules were available for 59. Plastic surgery, general surgery, and surgical subspecialty exposures were quantified and compared. Inclusion of rotations "strongly suggested" by the Residency Review Committee and the American Board of Plastic Surgery was also examined. RESULTS:PGY1-3 plastic surgery exposure ranged from 3.5-25 months (mean 13.9 ± 5.4). General surgery rotations ranged from 5-22.5 months (mean 12.8 ± 4.7). Surgical subspecialty rotations ranged from 0-8 months (mean 3.6 ± 1.8). There was no difference in mean plastic surgery exposure between programs based within departments versus divisions (15.4 vs. 13.3 months; p=0.184). There remained significant variability in the inclusion of 18 non-plastic surgery rotations including the "strongly suggested" rotations. CONCLUSIONS:Plastic surgery exposure remains highly variable with over a 7-fold difference between programs. This suggests that programs are still sorting out the "ideal" curriculum. However, there is an overall trend towards earlier and increased plastic surgery exposure in PGY1-3, which now exceeds the average time spent on general surgery rotations.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular reconstruction of the lower extremity has the highest reported complication and flap failure rates of any anatomical region. Despite widespread adoption of the mechanical anastomotic venous coupler and encouraging results in other anatomical regions, there are limited reports examining its use in the lower extremity. This study compares outcomes between coupled and hand-sewn venous anastomoses in traumatic lower extremity reconstruction. METHODS:-tests. RESULTS: = 0.004). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS: Complication and flap failure rates were similar between reconstructions performed with a venous coupler and those performed with hand-sewn venous anastomoses. These findings suggest that use of the venous anastomotic coupler is safe and effective in lower extremity reconstruction, with comparable outcomes to conventional sutured anastomoses.

BACKGROUND:Analysis of Internet search patterns is rapidly transforming the study of human behavior. Google's data, accessed through Google Trends, have proven extremely insightful in several fields of medical research. Despite its adoption in other fields of medicine, Google Trends has not yet been explored in the field of plastic surgery. METHODS:The number of cosmetic surgery procedures from 2005 through 2016 was obtained from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual reports. Using Google Trends, the most commonly used keywords describing each procedure were determined, and data regarding search interest over time, interest across geographic area, and Related Queries were obtained. The number of procedures performed annually was compared to relative search volume from the corresponding year and the year prior to determine correlation. RESULTS:Of the 22 procedures evaluated, the annual number of eight procedures correlated with Internet search volume in the corresponding year, and six procedures correlated with the Internet searches performed in the year prior. Florida and New York were the states with the most searches for these procedures. Related Queries suggested that several factors, such as operative techniques, notable individuals undergoing procedures, and cost, variably drove correlations for different procedures. CONCLUSIONS:Google Trends is a powerful tool that can be used to better understand patient interest in, questions about, and decisions regarding cosmetic surgery procedures. These findings warrant action by aesthetic surgeons to increase interest, address misinformation, and help patients fill the gaps of information missed by Internet searches.

INTRODUCTION:/UNASSIGNED:Internal limb-sparing hemipelvectomy is currently the preferred surgical option for resection of pelvic tumours. Obtaining an acceptable functional outcome through the standard ilioinguinal or iliofemoral incisions, only compounds the already challenging dissection, resection and reconstruction of these extensive en-bloc extirpative oncologic operations. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE:/UNASSIGNED:We describe a novel surgical approach to the lateral pelvis that minimises injury to the gluteal muscles, spares the gluteal vessels and provides a broad yet shallow operative field conducive to microsurgery with sizeable vasculature in close proximity to facilitate any microsurgical reconstruction. Access to the ilium and sacrum for Enneking Type 1 and Type 4 resections respectively is obtained by reflecting a skin and soft tissue flap anteriorly while the gluteal muscles are reflected posteriorly and inferiorly. This technique minimises the amount of tissue reflected in any particular direction, therefore, providing a broad and shallow operative field which benefits the orthopaedic oncologic surgeon and the plastic reconstructive surgeon. CONCLUSION:/UNASSIGNED:The "posterior open-book" approach offers a promising alternative to the standard ilioinguinal or iliofemoral incisions for internal limb-sparing Type 1 hemipelvectomies while also optimising the exposure for subsequent reconstructive procedures.

BACKGROUND:The incidence and risk factors of wound-healing complications following rotational ankle fracture surgery are well documented in the literature. However, there is a paucity regarding management options following these complications. The goal of this study was to provide a descriptive analysis of one surgeon's experience managing wound complications in patients who have undergone ankle fracture surgery. METHODS:A total of 215 patients who were operatively treated for an unstable ankle were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics, medical histories, initial injury characteristics, surgical interventions, and clinical follow-up were collected. Twenty-five of these patients developed postoperative wound problems. RESULTS:Of the original cohort of 215 patients, 25 (11.6%) developed wound-healing complications. Their average age was 53.6 ± 18.0 years; there were 12 males (48.0%). Connective tissue/inflammatory disease (odds ratio [OR] 3.9), cardiovascular disease (OR 3.6), and active smoking (OR 3.3) were associated with an increased likelihood of developing postoperative wound complications. With regard to injuries, open fractures (OR 17.9) had the highest likelihood of developing postoperative complications, followed by type 44-C (OR 2.8) and trimalleolar fractures (OR 2.0). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Wound complications following open treatment of ankle fractures occurred with an incidence of 11.6% in this series, of which only about half required operative intervention. A third of wounds were managed by orthopaedics in conjunction with plastic surgery. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level III: Retrospective comparative study.

Background/UNASSIGNED:Although global demand for cosmetic surgery continues to rise, plastic surgery residents feel that current models of aesthetic training are inadequate in preparing them for future practice. Digital learning resources offer promising educational possibilities, yet there are no formal studies investigating the integration of these technologies into the aesthetic curriculum. Objectives/UNASSIGNED:Here, we review the current state of aesthetic training for plastic surgery residents and present a pilot study investigating the value of a dedicated multimedia-based aesthetic curriculum at a single, large academic program. Methods/UNASSIGNED:Twenty plastic surgery residents participated in an 8-week curriculum consisting of weekly multimedia-based modules covering a specific aesthetic topic. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention surveys at 0- and 10-weeks, respectively. Surveys evaluated resident perspectives of the current state of aesthetic training, confidence in performing surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures, perceived efficacy of multimedia interventions for learning, and preferences for inclusion of such approaches in future curricula. Results/UNASSIGNED:16.7% of participants planned on entering an aesthetic fellowship following residency. The mean number of months of dedicated cosmetic surgery rotations was 1.65 months. Resident confidence level in performing a particular aesthetic procedure significantly increased in 6/14 modules. Over 90% of residents were interested in incorporating the modules into residency. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Technology-based aesthetic training is critical for producing the finest future practitioners and leaders of this specialty. Here, we show that plastic surgery residents can benefit from a multimedia-based aesthetic curriculum, even if they do not plan on pursuing a career devoted to cosmetic surgery.