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Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel coronavirus originating in December of 2019 in Wuhan, People's Republic of China, has spread rapidly throughout the globe over 3 months. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. COVID-19 represents a nearly unprecedented threat to both the public health and the durability of our health care systems and will profoundly affect the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. The objective of this article is to provide a natural history of COVID-19-including virology, epidemiology, and transmission patterns-and a guide for plastic surgeons regarding patient and resource management. Methods The authors reviewed existing literature regarding COVID-19, both primary research and secondary reviews, by means of PubMed queries, and recommendations from relevant professional organizations (e.g., American College of Surgeons and American Society of Plastic Surgeons). The literature and recommendations were summarized to provide a specific guide for plastic surgeons. Results Internationally, over 5.7 million cases and 357,000 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported at the time of writing. No pharmacologic treatments have been identified, but epidemiologic strategies were identified to prevent viral spread, preserve health care resources, and protect patients and surgeons globally. Specific recommendations for plastic and reconstructive surgeons include postponing elective cases and transitioning to telecommunication platforms for patient consultations and education. Conclusions COVID-19 represents a nearly unprecedented threat to the public health and the durability of health care systems in the contemporary era. Although plastic and reconstructive surgery may seem relatively remote from the pandemic in direct patient care and exposure, our field can significantly enhance health care resource management.

Social media are used for information sharing among patients with similar health conditions, and analysis of social media activity could inform clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to use Facebook to evaluate a cohort of individuals' perceptions of and satisfaction with breast reconstruction.In this observational study, the authors collected and analyzed posts pertaining to autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction from active Facebook groups. Patient satisfaction data were categorized, and a thematic analysis of posts was conducted. Qualitative posts were grouped based on common themes and quantitatively compared using frequency and chi-square analysis.The authors evaluated 500 posts from two Facebook groups. Two hundred sixty-four posts referenced deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction and 117 were related to implant-based reconstruction. Among individuals referencing DIEP flap reconstruction, 52 percent were satisfied, compared with 20 percent of individuals who referenced satisfaction with implant-based reconstruction (p0.0001). Individuals posting about DIEP flaps reported a higher rate of unexpected side effects (p0.001) and numbness (p = 0.004). When referencing implant-based reconstruction, individuals reported significantly higher rates of infection, contracture, and implant failure (p0.001).Based on the authors' review of social media activity, individuals undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction expressed relatively high individual satisfaction despite difficult postoperative recovery. Individuals who referenced implant-based reconstruction mentioned infection and implant failure, leading to high rates of dissatisfaction. Social media appear to provide informational and emotional support to patients. Plastic surgeons can use social media to gather unbiased information of patients' experience to inform clinical conversation and guide clinical practice.

BACKGROUND Parry-Romberg syndrome is an enigmatic craniofacial disorder characterized by progressive facial atrophy. The pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms governing Parry-Romberg syndrome have never before been described. The purpose of the current study was twofold: (1) to begin to elucidate the pathophysiology of this disease using next-generation RNA sequencing and (2) to evaluate the effect of surgical treatment on gene expression. METHODS Patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome underwent microvascular free tissue transfer to the face to address contour deformity in both active and burned out disease. Tissue samples were collected for analysis at the time of initial microvascular free tissue transfer, and 6 months later at a scheduled revision operation. Patients presenting for rhytidectomy had tissue samples taken as control tissue. Samples from patients with disease were compared to control samples. RESULTS Twenty-two subjects were evaluated (six control and 16 Parry-Romberg syndrome patients). All patients with Parry-Romberg syndrome underwent microvascular free tissue transfer to the face. Thirteen patients underwent scheduled 6-month revision surgery. Disease samples were distinct from healthy controls, and postoperative patient samples were more similar to healthy control samples. Parry-Romberg syndrome patients had a unique proinflammatory gene expression profile, including up-regulation of IL24, ADAMTS4, and GFCSF3. Postoperatively, more than 3400 genes were changed (p < 0.005), and of the 460 genes dysregulated in disease, 118 were changed in a corrective fashion by microvascular free tissue transfer. CONCLUSIONS The authors describe for the first time molecular signatures in Parry-Romberg syndrome. Molecular signatures in skin became more similar to those in healthy controls and were associated with clinical improvement after microvascular free tissue transfer in Parry-Romberg syndrome.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to as Obamacare, was signed into law on March 23, 2010. It represents the most extensive overhaul of the country's health care system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The Affordable Care Act has two goals. The first goal is to reduce the uninsured population in the United States. Key elements to covering the uninsured include the following: (1) expanding Medicaid coverage for low-income individuals and (2) establishing health insurance marketplaces for moderate-income individuals with subsidies and tax cuts in an effort to make health insurance more affordable. The second goal of the Affordable Care Act is to address concerns about quality and the overall cost of U.S. health care. It is imperative that plastic surgeons thoroughly understand the impact that the Affordable Care Act will undoubtedly have on the country, on our patients, and on our clinical practices. Plastic surgery will see many changes in the future. This will include an overall increase in the number of insured patients, a push toward joining accountable care organizations, and a shift in payment systems to bundled reimbursement for episodes of care. In this article, the authors describe how these changes are likely to occur and what plastic surgeons must do to be part of the change.

Optogenetics is an emerging technology that enables the expression of light-activated ion channels in mammalian cells. Neurons expressing light-activated ion channels can be depolarized using the appropriate wavelength of light. Optical stimulation of neurons could have important implications for further understanding and managing peripheral nerve deficits leading to paresis or paralysis. This study examines the utility of this technology in a feedback-controlled system and the advantages of coupling this technology with conventional electrical stimulation. The sciatic nerves of transgenic mice expressing blue light–activated ion channels (channelrhodopsin-2) were optically manipulated to generate electromyographic responses in the gastrocnemius muscle and to develop two potential applications of this technology: feedback-controlled optical stimulation using a proportional-integral controller, and simultaneous electrical-optical stimulation. The authors observed repeatable and predictable behavior of the optical controller in over 200 trials and a statistically significant decreased error when using optical feedback control as opposed to non–feedback controlled stimulation (n = 6 limbs). A second application of this technology was the amplification of electrically generated peripheral nerve signals using an optical source. Amplification of electrical activity was observed even when subthreshold electrical stimulation was used. Optical feedback control and optical amplification of subthreshold activity extend the versatility of optogenetics in peripheral nerve applications. Optical feedback control is a new application of an approach originally developed for functional electrical stimulation. Optical amplification of subthreshold electrical stimulation motivates future investigations into the optical amplification of endogenous subthreshold peripheral nerve activity (e.g., following spinal cord injury).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: : After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Identify risk factors associated with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 2. Recognize the clinical presentation of patients with community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus. 3. Understand the treatment and indications for decolonization of patients who have community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections. SUMMARY: : Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has evolved over the past 10 years as a new health threat seen by plastic surgeons and is an increasing cause of soft-tissue infections. This pathogen has several distinct virulence factors and unique antimicrobial susceptibilities that distinguish methicillin-resistant S. aureus from traditional hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus. This article reviews the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

Sir:Patients receiving medication to treat opioid dependence present unique perioperative pain management challenges. As illustrated by the following two case examples, these challenges are significant for providers of all specialties, including plastic surgeons.The patient in the first case was a 2

The perioperative environment can be hazardous to patients and providers alike. Although many risks are best addressed preoperatively, some hazards require constant attention by the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and staff in the operating room. In a previous article, the authors discussed preoperative aspects of patient safety. In this article, the authors review intraoperative and postoperative risks and techniques to decrease these risks.The authors reviewed the literature regarding operating room safety, both primary research and secondary reviews, via multiple PubMed queries and literature searches. Topics most relevant to inpatient plastic surgery were included in the final analysis and summarized, as a full review of each topic is beyond the scope of this article.Several intraoperative and postoperative risks were identified, in addition to methods designed to decrease the incidence of those risks, complications, and other adverse events among plastic surgeons and their patients.In this article covering intraoperative and postoperative hazards, the authors build upon a previous article addressing preoperative risks to patients during inpatient plastic surgery. Although neither article covers an exhaustive list of potential risks, the goal is to provide the modern plastic surgeon with the means to prevent common adverse events, as well as the tools to research new hazards.

Beyond the controlled trauma of surgery, the operating room can be a hazardous place for patients and health care workers alike. Modern plastic surgery requires a thorough knowledge of various perioperative risks and methods to minimize these risks. As the importance of teamwork becomes more evident, clear communication skills preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively become equally critical. To facilitate an improvement in perioperative patient safety, this article will review aspects of communication, including crew resource management, root cause analysis, and surgical-site verification. In addition, the authors will discuss patient positioning, antiseptic hand and patient preparations, and barriers, such as surgical scrubs, gowns, gloves, and drapes.The authors reviewed the literature regarding operating room safety, both primary research and secondary reviews, via multiple PubMed queries and literature searches. Topics most relevant to inpatient plastic surgery were included in the final analysis and summarized, as a full review of each topic is beyond the scope of this article.Many possible interventions were identified, with the goal of reducing perioperative complications, such as wrong site surgery, neuropathies, myopathies, compartment syndromes, pressure ulcers, surgical-site infections, and blood-borne disease transmissions among plastic surgeons and their patients.There are ample opportunities for the reduction of preventable adverse events in plastic surgery. This article aims to provide its reader with the tools to research adverse events and a basic education in avoiding specific preoperative events. A second article addressing intraoperative and postoperative patient safety follows.