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Basal joint osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition. Recent clinical evidence suggests that autologous fat transfer (AFT) may be a promising, minimally invasive treatment for this condition. However, the mechanism of action is not fully understood. It is theorized that AFT reduces inflammation in the joint, functions to regenerate cartilage, or acts as a mechanical buffer. The purpose of this study was to better understand the underlying mechanism of AFT using an in vitro model. We hypothesize that the addition of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells will cause a reduction in markers of inflammation.Articular chondrocytes were expanded in culture. Liposuction samples were collected from human subjects and processed similarly to AFT protocols to isolate SVF rich in adipose-derived stem cells. A control group was treated with standard growth media, and a positive control group (OA group) was treated with inflammatory cytokines. To mimic AFT, experimental groups received inflammatory cytokines and either a low or high dose of SVF. Expression of relevant genes was measured, including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP).Compared to the OA group, significant decreases in IL-1ß, MMP3, and MMP13 expression on treatment day 3 were found in the high-dose SVF group, while MMP13 expression was also significantly decreased in the low-dose SVF group on day 3.In this study, we found that SVF treatment reduced expression of IL-1ß, MMP3, and MMP13 in an in vitro model of OA. These results suggest that an anti-inflammatory mechanism may be responsible for the clinical effects seen with AFT in the treatment of basal joint OA.An anti-inflammatory mechanism may be responsible for the clinical benefits seen with AFT for basal joint arthritis.

SUMMARY This review discusses the current evidence regarding perioperative hormone therapy for transgender individuals, with an emphasis on strategies to reduce the risk of perioperative venous thromboembolism. Historically, surgeons routinely discontinued estrogen therapy in the perioperative period with the goal of reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism. However, abrupt estrogen cessation may also lead to adverse emotional and physiologic effects, including an exacerbation of one's gender dysphoria. The data on the relationship of feminizing hormones and venous thromboembolism in the perioperative setting are largely based on extrapolation of hormone regimens that are no longer in use and may not accurately reflect the actual risk of venous thromboembolism. Future studies will allow surgeons to engage in evidence-based, patient-centered, informed consent while also minimizing the risk of complications, such as venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND Plastic surgery education consists of technical skills, surgical decision-making, and the knowledge necessary to provide safe patient care. Competency in these modalities is ensured by requiring case minimums and oral and written examinations. However, there is a paucity of information detailing what teaching modalities residency programs use outside of the operating room. METHODS A 16-question survey was sent to all integrated and independent program directors. Information regarding nonsurgical resident education was collected and analyzed. RESULTS There were 44 responses (46 percent). Most programs had six to 10 faculty (43 percent), and a majority (85 percent) required faculty to participate in resident education outside of the operating room. Residents most commonly had 3 to 4 hours (43 percent) of protected educational time 1 day per week (53 percent). Nonsurgical education consisted of weekly lectures by attending physicians (44 percent) and residents (54 percent), in addition to weekly CoreQuest (48 percent), teaching rounds (38 percent), and Plastic Surgery Education Network lectures (55 percent). Monthly activities included morbidity and mortality conference (81 percent) and journal club (86 percent). Indications conference was either monthly (41 percent) or weekly (39 percent). Cadaver laboratories, visiting professors, board preparation, in-service review, and meetings with the program director occurred yearly or several times per year. Forty-nine percent of programs sponsor one educational course per resident. In addition, most programs (65 percent) do not receive outside funding for education. CONCLUSIONS These findings improve understanding of the current state of nonsurgical resident education in plastic surgery. They illustrate that residents participate in a diverse number of nonsurgical educational activities without any significant standardization.

As described by Straayer, the phantom penis in transgender men combines feelings of loss and potential and may contribute to self-authentication and pleasure following phalloplasty. To align their ...

Dorsal augmentation rhinoplasty addresses the aesthetic and functional impairments caused by a deficient nasal dorsum. Augmentation rhinoplasty can be performed using a variety of different surgical techniques and grafting materials that all have distinct advantages and disadvantages.Grafting materials have unique characteristics, uses, and safety profiles. A detailed overview of various grafting materials and their uses, risks, and benefits is provided.Autologous grafting materials include septal cartilage, auricular cartilage, and costal cartilage. These donor sites can provide various amounts of en bloc or diced cartilage. Alternatively, bone may be used when strong structural stability is required, and soft tissue may be used to fill mild to moderate defects. Homologous grafts (e.g., irradiated and nonirradiated rib) and acellular dermal matrices are alternatives to autologous graft with many similar advantages and no need for an additional surgical site. Lastly, alloplastic implants may be successfully used for dorsal augmentation if both patient and surgeon understand their associated risks.To perform successful dorsal augmentation, surgeons should be familiar with the wide variety of operative approaches and augmentation materials that are currently available and understand their risks, benefits, and uses.

Background After mastectomy and breast reconstruction, many patients experience upper extremity complications, such as pain, restriction in motion, and lymphedema. Despite an aesthetically satisfactory outcome, these occurrences can diminish a patient's postoperative quality of life. Several studies have investigated the causes and incidence of these complications. However, there is currently a paucity of data comparing postoperative upper extremity function according to reconstruction technique. Methods A review was performed of patients enrolled in a physical therapy (PT) program after mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. PT initial encounter evaluations were used to gather data on patients' postoperative upper extremity function. Hospital records were used to gather surgical and demographic data. For each patient, data were collected for each upper extremity that was ipsilateral to a reconstructed breast. Data were then compared between patients who underwent implant-based versus autologous deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction. Results A total of 72 patients were identified, including 39 autologous and 33 implant-based reconstruction cases. Proportions of patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsies and axillary lymph node dissections were similar between the two groups. The autologous-based reconstruction patients had significantly higher arm pain at rest (p = 0.004) and with activity (p = 0.031) compared with implant patients. Shoulder range of motion and manual muscle test results were similar between groups, with the exception of elbow flexion, which was weaker in implant patients (p = 0.030). Implant patients were also more likely to report “severe difficulty” or “inability” to perform activities of daily living (p = 0.022). Edema/swelling, axillary cording, and lymphedema girth measurements were similar between the two groups. Conclusion Different techniques of breast reconstruction can result in different postoperative upper extremity complications. These data show specific areas where postoperative care and PT can be customized according to reconstruction type. Investigation is currently underway to determine the effect of PT on upper extremity function in these patients.

Penile inversion vaginoplasty helps to alleviate gender dysphoria and improve quality of life in many transgender individuals. Overall, the procedure is associated with high post-operative satisfaction, even when complications occur. Adverse events related to vaginoplasty are commensurate with other genitourinary reconstructive procedures performed for other diagnoses (i.e. cancer or congenital issues). Here, we explore the incidence of complications following vaginoplasty, emphasizing the challenges in defining and managing these adverse events. In addition, outcome measures to assess patient satisfaction will be reviewed.

Background The increasing trend of women with unilateral breast cancer to electively undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in addition to treatment of the index breast has been controversial. The authors set out to better frame the risks and benefits of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in the treatment of unilateral breast cancer by evaluating outcomes of a large, consecutive cohort of patients. Methods An institutional review board-approved review of a single-surgeon (N.T.) experience (2013 to 2018) was conducted of all consecutive patients with unilateral breast cancer treated with mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Patient characteristics, surgical pathologic results, and 30-day complications were assessed. Outcomes of patients with unilateral cancer who underwent unilateral mastectomy versus bilateral mastectomy (with one breast being contralateral prophylactic mastectomy) were compared. Logistic regression models evaluated various risk factors for potential associations with positive pathologic findings in the contralateral prophylactic mastectomy specimen and/or postoperative complications. Results Of 244 patients, 68 (27.9 percent) underwent unilateral mastectomy and 176 (72.1 percent) underwent contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Surgical pathologic results of the prophylactic breast revealed occult ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive cancer in 13 patients (7.3 percent) and lobular carcinoma in situ in eight patients (4.6 percent). Incidence of complications was similar between groups [unilateral mastectomy, 19.12 percent (n = 13); contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, 13.07 percent (n = 23); p = 0.234]. Conclusions Immediate reconstruction for unilateral mastectomy and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy have similar complication risk profiles, among patients as a whole and between individual breasts. These findings contribute to our understanding of the clinical impact prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction may have on optimizing the counseling among extirpative surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, and patients. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, III.

Background:. Alternative bibliometrics have recently been the subject of significantly increased interest. The disruption index is a new bibliometric that was recently applied to surgery and urology and identifies papers that shift paradigms and eclipse previous research in a given field. Methods:. The 100 most-disruptive publications in the 14 most prominent plastic and reconstructive surgery and subspecialty journals were identified. Results:. We present the 100 most-disruptive studies as well as the 100 most-cited studies for comparison in n=14 of the most popular plastic and reconstructive surgery (and subspecialty) journals between 1954 and 2014. The 100 most-disruptive publications in these journals were more disruptive than 99.8% of all PubMed papers. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) had the most papers in the top 100 (n=64) followed by British Journal of Plastic Surgery (currently Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, n=15), and Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (n=7). PRS had 9 of the top 10 papers. However, Clinics in Plastic Surgery had the highest average disruption score for all its published papers (0.0029). The correlation coefficient linking disruption scores and citation counts was 0.01 and 0.11, respectively. The most common decade represented in the top 100 was the 1980's (n=31) and the least common was the 2000's (n=9). Conclusions:. This is the first application of the disruption index to plastic and reconstructive surgery. The disruption score provides a unique ability to identify research that has shifted paradigms and driven the innovation that defines our specialty.

BACKGROUND Donor site complications are a significant source of morbidity for patients undergoing abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction, but there is a paucity of data regarding minimizing these postoperative complications. We hypothesize that selective ablation of the umbilicus at the time of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) harvest decreases the incidence of umbilical and abdominal wall complications in high-risk patients. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of all patients (n = 117) who underwent DIEP harvest with concomitant umbilical ablation from 2010 to 2015. This cohort was paired with 117 patients who underwent DIEP harvest without umbilical ablation. Preoperative risk factors, intraoperative factors, and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS The umbilical ablation group had significantly higher body mass index (30.9 vs 27.4 kg/m, P < 0.001), presence of umbilical scar (20.9% vs 5.3%, P < 0.001), umbilical hernia (82.9% vs 8.5% P < 0.001), ventral hernia (23.9% vs 1.7%, P < 0.001), and rectus diastasis (10.3% vs 2.6%, P = 0.016). There were no significant differences of smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prior abdominal surgery, or midline abdominal scar. The umbilical ablation group had a significantly lower rate of postoperative abdominal wound dehiscence and skin loss (11.1% vs 22.2%, P = 0.023) and overall donor site complications (24.8% vs 39.3%, P = 0.017). There was no significant difference in incidence of cellulitis, seroma, or abscess. Mean follow-up time was 1.8 years. CONCLUSIONS Selective umbilical ablation in high-risk patients at the time of abdominal flap harvest can result in significantly fewer donor site wound complications, even in the setting of increased risk factors for poor wound healing. This is likely due to avoidance of umbilical incisions and decreased upper abdominal skin undermining. We conclude that umbilical ablation is a viable option to minimize donor site complications, especially in high-risk patients.

Background Recent health care changes have encouraged efforts to decrease costs. In plastic surgery, an area of potential cost savings includes appropriate use of pathologic examination. Specimens are frequently sent because of hospital policy, insurance request, or habit, even when clinically unnecessary. This is an area where evidence-based guidelines are lacking and significant cost-savings can be achieved. Methods All specimen submitted for pathologic examination at two hospitals between January and December of 2015 were queried for tissue expanders, breast implants, fat, skin, abdominal pannus, implant capsule, hardware, rib, bone, cartilage, scar, and keloid. Specimens not related to plastic surgery procedures were excluded. Pathologic diagnosis and cost data were obtained. Results A total of 759 specimens were identified. Of these, 161 were sent with a specific request for gross examination only. There were no clinically significant findings in any of the specimens. There was one incidental finding of a seborrheic keratosis on breast skin. The total amount billed in 2015 was $430,095. Conclusions The infrequency of clinically significant pathologic examination results does not support routine pathologic examination of all plastic surgery specimens. Instead, the authors justify select submission only when there is clinical suspicion or medical history that warrants evaluation. By eliminating unnecessary histologic or macroscopic examination, significant cost savings may be achieved.

Large defects of the craniofacial skeleton can be exceedingly difficult to reconstruct since autologous bone grafts are limited by donor site morbidity and alloplastic implants have low biocompatibility. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in craniofacial reconstruction have been used with mixed outcomes and complication concerns; however, results for specific indications have been promising.In alveolar clefts, cranial vault defects, mandibular defects, and rare Tessier craniofacial clefts, BMP-2 impregnated in collagen matrix was looked at as an alternative therapy for challenging cases. In cases where structural support was required, BMP-2 was used as part of a construct with bio-resorbable plates. Demineralized bone was added in certain cases.The authors described specific indications, detailed surgical techniques, and a review of the current literature regarding the use of BMP-2 in craniofacial reconstruction. BMP-2 is a viable option for craniofacial reconstruction to decrease donor-site morbidity or when alternatives are contraindicated. It is not recommended for routine use or in the oncologic setting but should currently be reserved as an alternative therapy for complex cases with limited options.Bone morphogenetic proteins are a promising, emerging option for complex craniofacial reconstruction. Future directions of BMP-2 therapies will become apparent as data from prospective randomized trials emerges.