Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Patients increasingly rely on Internet resources for medical information. Well-informed patients are more likely to be active participants in their health care, contributing to higher satisfaction and better overall outcomes. Access to online patient material, however, can be limited by inadequate functional health literacy. The National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association recommend that educational content be written at a sixth-grade reading level. This study aims to assess the readability of online patient resources for breast augmentation surgery. METHODS: A Web search for "breast implant surgery" was performed using the largest public search engine. After sponsored results were excluded, the 12 most accessed sites were identified. Patient-directed information from all relevant articles immediately linked from the main site was downloaded and formatted into plain text. The readability of 110 articles was evaluated using 10 established analyses, both overall and by Web site. RESULTS: The overall average readability of the 12 most popular Internet resources for breast augmentation was at a thirteenth-grade reading level (Coleman-Liau, 13.4; Flesch-Kincaid, 12.7; FORCAST, 11.3; Fry, 13; New Dale-Chall, 12.9; New Gunning Fog, 13.8; Raygor Estimate, 15; and Simple Mesaure of Gobbledygook Formula, 14.3). The Flesch Reading Ease index was 41, which falls into a "difficult" reading category. No individual article or Web site was at the recommended sixth-grade level. CONCLUSIONS: Online resources for breast augmentation are above recommended reading levels. This may potentially serve as a barrier to patients seeking this type of surgery. Plastic surgeons should be aware of potential gaps in understanding and direct patients toward more appropriate resources.

BACKGROUND:Little is known about the role of osteoclasts in cranial suture fusion. Osteoclasts are predominantly regulated by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, both of which lead to osteoclast differentiation, activation, and survival; and osteoprotegerin, a soluble inhibitor of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B. The authors' work examines the role of osteoprotegerin in this process using knockout technology. METHODS:Wild-type, osteoprotegerin-heterozygous, and osteoprotegerin-knockout mice were imaged by serial micro-computed tomography at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 16 weeks. Suture density measurements and craniometric analysis were performed at these same time points. Posterofrontal sutures were harvested from mice after the week-16 time point and analyzed by means of histochemistry. RESULTS:Micro-computed tomographic analysis of the posterofrontal suture revealed reduced suture fusion in osteoprotegerin-knockout mice compared with wild-type and heterozygous littermates. Osteoprotegerin deficiency resulted in a statistically significant decrease in suture bone density in knockout mice. There was no reduction in the density of non-suture-containing calvarial bone between wild-type and osteoprotegerin-knockout mice. Histochemistry of suture sections supported these micro-computed tomographic findings. Finally, osteoprotegerin-knockout mice had reduced anteroposterior skull distance at all time points and an increased interorbital distance at the week-16 time point. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The authors' data suggest that perturbations in the expression of osteoprotegerin and subsequent changes in osteoclastogenesis lead to alterations in murine cranial and posterofrontal suture morphology.

CONTEXT.: Approximately 30% of women report pain in the affected breast prior to breast cancer surgery. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this secondary analysis of our prospective study was to determine how women who experienced both preoperative and persistent postsurgical breast pain (n=107) differed from women who did not report preoperative breast pain and did (n=158) or did not (n=122) experience persistent postsurgical breast pain. METHODS: Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Linear mixed effects (LME) modeling was used to evaluate for group differences in symptom severity, function, sensation, and quality of life (QOL) over time. RESULTS: Between-group differences in demographic and clinical characteristics as well as trajectories of shoulder function and QOL were identified. Women with both preoperative and persistent postsurgical breast pain were younger; were more likely to report swelling, strange sensations, hardness, and numbness in the affected breast prior to surgery; and were more likely to have reconstruction at the time of surgery. Women with both preoperative and persistent postsurgical breast pain had more biopsies in the prior year, more lymph nodes removed, and reported more severe acute postsurgical pain than women without preoperative breast pain. LME modeling revealed significant group effects for the majority of outcomes evaluated. Over the six months of the study, women with both preoperative and persistent postsurgical pain had persistently poorer shoulder flexion and physical well-being than women without preoperative breast pain. CONCLUSION: Investigations of the etiology and molecular mechanisms of preoperative breast pain, as well as interventions for this high risk group, are needed.

The present study aims to determine the risk of early secondary nasal revisions in patients with complete unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate (U/BCLP) treated with and without nasoalveolar molding (NAM) and examine the associated costs of care. A retrospective cohort study from 1990 to 1999 was performed comparing the risk of early secondary nasal revision surgery in patients with a CLP treated with NAM and surgery (cleft lip repair and primary surgical nasal reconstruction) versus surgery alone in a private practice and tertiary level clinic. The NAM treatment group consisted of 172 patients with UCLP and 71 patients with BCLP, whereas the non-NAM-prepared group consisted of 28 patients with UCLP and 5 with BCLP. The risk of secondary nasal revision for patients with UCLP was 3% in the NAM group and 21% in the non-NAM group. The risk of secondary nasal revision for patients with BCLP was 7% in the NAM group compared with 40% in the non-NAM group. Using multicenter averages, the non-NAM revision rates were calculated at 37.8% and 48.5% for U/BCLP, respectively. Applying these risks of revision, NAM treatment led to an estimated savings of between $491 and $4893 depending on the type of cleft. In conclusion, NAM can reduce the number of early secondary nasal revision surgeries and, therefore, reduce the overall cost of care.

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment on the microtensile dentin bond strength of two self-etching adhesive systems after one year of water storage as well as observe the contact angle changes of dentin treated with plasma and the micromorphology of resin/dentin interfaces using SEM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For contact angle measurements, 6 human molars were sectioned to remove the occlusal enamel surface, embedded in PMMA resin, and ground to expose a flat dentin surface. Teeth were divided into two groups: 1) argon APP treatment for 30 s, and 2) blown air (control). For the microtensile test, 28 human third molars were used and prepared similarly to contact angle measurements. Teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 7) according to two self-etching adhesives and APP treatment (with/without). After making the composite resin buildup, teeth were sectioned perpendicular to the bonded interface to obtain beam specimens. The specimens were tested after 24 h and one year of water storage until failure. Bond strength data were analyzed by three-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (alpha = 0.05%). Three beam specimens per group that were not used in the bond strength test were prepared for interfacial SEM analysis. RESULTS: APP application decreased the contact angle, but increased the bond strength only for one adhesive tested. SEM evaluation found signs of degradation within interfacial structures following 1-year aging in water. APP increased the dentin surface energy, but the effects of APP and 1-year water storage on dentin bond strength were product dependent. CONCLUSION: APP increased the dentin surface energy. It also increased the bond strength for Scotchbond Universal, but storage for one year negated the positive effect of APP treatment.

Tracheostoma wounds are complex defects that commonly occur in patients with vessel-depleted necks after cervical lymphadenectomy, who have multiple medical comorbidities, and a history of radiation therapy. The authors report reconstruction of 5 tracheostoma wounds using a pedicled, supraclavicular artery island flap as a reconstructive alternative. There were no flap losses, fistulas or leaks, revisions, or other complications. The supraclavicular artery island flap is a versatile, reliable, and effective option for tracheostoma reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The National Residency Matching Program Match is a very unique process in which applicants and programs are coupled to each other based on a ranking system. Although several studies have assessed features plastic surgery programs look for in applicants, no study in the present plastic surgery literature identifies which residency characteristics are most important to plastic surgery applicants. Therefore, we sought to perform a multi-institutional assessment as to which factors plastic surgery residency applicants consider most important when applying for residency. METHODS: A validated and anonymous questionnaire containing 37 items regarding various program characteristics was e-mailed to 226 applicants to New York University, Albany, University of Michigan, and University of Southern California plastic surgery residency programs. Applicants were asked to rate each feature on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important. The 37 variables were ranked by the sum of the responses. The median rating and interquartile range as well as the mean for each factor was then calculated. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare medians in rank order. RESULTS: A total of 137 completed questionnaires were returned, yielding a 61% response rate. The characteristics candidates considered most important were impressions during the interview, experiences during away rotations, importance placed on resident training/support/mentoring by faculty, personal experiences with residents, and the amount of time spent in general surgery. The characteristics candidates considered least important were second-look experiences, compensation/benefits, program reputation from Internet forums, accessibility of program coordinator, opportunity for laboratory research, and fellowship positions available at the program. CONCLUSIONS: Applicants value personal contact and time spent in general surgery when selecting residency programs. As the number of integrated programs continues to grow, programs will benefit from learning what factors their applicants value most.

Bilateral craniofacial microsomia causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesize that unilateral craniofacial microsomia (UCFM) is an underappreciated cause of OSA. The records of all pediatric UCFM patients from 1990 to 2010 were reviewed; only complete records were included in the study. UCFM patients with OSA (apnea hypopnea index >1/hr) were compared to UCFM patients without OSA. Univariate and multivariate Fisher and chi tests were performed. Of the 62 UCFM patients, 7 (11.3%) had OSA. All OSA patients had Pruzansky IIB or III mandibles. OSA patients presented with snoring (71.4%), failure to thrive (FTT) (57.1%), and chronic respiratory infections (42.8%). Snoring (P < 0.001), Goldenhar syndrome (P = 0.001), and FTT (P = 0.004) were significantly associated with OSA, but race, obesity, clefts, respiratory anomalies, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and laterality were not. The prevalence of OSA in UCFM patients is up to 10 times greater than in the general population. Snoring, Goldenhar syndrome, and FTT are significantly associated with the presence of OSA.

Modern sarcoma treatment has created new challenges for plastic surgeons. This study was designed to review the recent experience and practice patterns following complex sarcoma resection at a large sarcoma center. All cases from October 2013 to October 2014 involving rare nonepithelial tumors, a multidisciplinary surgical team, radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments, and plastic surgical reconstruction were included in the analysis. In addition to evaluating clinical outcomes, cases were reviewed to identify factors associated with excellent or poor patient care. Review of these cases formed the basis of the greatest healing opportunity for soft tissue (GHOST) protocol. Our patient population included seven males (64%) and four females (36%). All except one patient was exposed to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or some combination. Diverse procedures were used for reconstruction. Early complications occurred in two patients (18%), and late complications in four patients (36%). Sarcoma resection was found to be highly morbid in our series. Patients with poor preoperative nutritional status were more likely to experience complications postoperatively. The decision to stage a reconstruction was complex and influenced by several factors. Multimodal sarcoma treatments may involve highly morbid procedures and create complex wounds. The GHOST protocol is a useful reference for plastic surgeons.