Must-read articles chosen by the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons:

January 2020

Prospective Study of Doppler Ultrasound Surveillance for Deep Venous Thromboses in 1000 Plastic Surgery Outpatients

Swanson, Eric M.D.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: January 2020 - Volume 145 - Issue 1 - p 85-96

Dr. Swanson is an advocate for ultrasonic screening of postoperative DVT.  He reports the results of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent outpatient cosmetic surgery, who underwent postoperative lower extremity ultrasound and no chemoprophylaxis.  He identified nine DVT, eight of which were treated with oral anticoagulants, and all of whom recovered.  He concludes that ultrasound surveillance is an effective alternative for chemoprophylaxis in the setting of outpatient cosmetic surgery.

Link:https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2020/01000/Prospective_Study_of_Doppler_Ultrasound.19.aspx

Breast-Related Quality of Life in Young Reduction Mammaplasty Patients: A Long-Term Follow-Up Using the BREAST-Q

Krucoff, Kate B.; Carlson, Anna R.; Shammas, Ronnie L.; Mundy, Lily R.; Lee, Hui-Jie; Georgiade, Gregory S.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 144(5):743e-750e, November 2019.

A retrospective review of 52 patients younger than 25 years, some as young as 12, who underwent breast reduction.  BREAST-Q data showed that patients with juvenile hypertrophy are happy with their surgical results, even decades after surgery.  Significantly higher than normative scores were seen for Satisfaction of Breasts, Sexual Well-being, and several other categories.  Evidence that  young patients experience a long lasting improvement in quality of life following breast reduction. 

Link:https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2019/11000/Breast_Related_Quality_of_Life_in_Young_Reduction.5.aspx

Three Simple Steps for Refining Transcutaneous Lower Blepharoplasty for Aging Eyelids: The Indispensability of Micro-Autologous Fat Transplantation

Shu-Hung Huang, MD, PhD, Yun-Nan Lin, MD,  Su-Shin Lee, MD, et al

Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 39, Issue 11, November 2019, Pages 1163-1177.

The authors present an intelligent and systematic approach to the lower eyelid blepharoplasty, including subcilliary incision, orbital fat removal, and micro fat-grafting to the tear trough/lid-cheek junction.  Useful tips and operative descriptions are included.  Photos are convincing.

Link: https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/39/11/1163/5298292

April 2020

Outcome of Quality of Life for Women Undergoing Autologous versus Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction following Mastectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Eltahir, Yassir M.D.; Krabbe-Timmerman, Irene S. M.D.; Sadok, Nadia M.D.; Werker, Paul M. N. M.D., Ph.D.; de Bock, Geertruida H. Ph.D.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: May 2020 - Volume 145 - Issue 5 - p 1109-1123

There have been several recent studies addressing quality of life following breast reconstruction, but this article is a good summary of them.  A meta-analysis was performed of 10 recent studies which compared patient-rated outcomes following autologous and implant reconstruction.  This review showed that women were more satisfied and had higher quality of life following autologous reconstruction compared with alloplastic breast reconstruction. Those undergoing autologous breast reconstruction scored higher in almost all BREAST-Q scales compared with alloplastic breast reconstruction, and the greatest difference was seen in Satisfaction with Breasts.  This underscores the principle that autologous options and their advantages should always be discussed with breast cancer patients.

Link: https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2020/05000/Outcome_of_Quality_of_Life_for_Women_Undergoing.1.aspx

Reduced Seroma Risk in Drainless Abdominoplasty Using Running Barbed Sutures: A 10-Year, Multicenter Retrospective Analysis 

Allen D Rosen, MD, FACS,  Karol A Gutowski, MD, FACS,  Teresa Hartman, PAC

Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 40, Issue 5, May 2020, Pages 531–537

The results of a large retrospective single armed study reviewing the use of a progressive tension technique using running barbed sutures in order to eliminate drains following abdominoplasty are presented.  There were two operating surgeons at two institutions included, and there were 445 patients in the series.  The seroma rate was 4.7% which was significantly lower than published rates for abdominoplasty with drains.

Link:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjz238

Revision Carpal Tunnel Release: Risk Factors and Rate of Secondary Surgery

Westenberg, Ritsaart F. M.D.; Oflazoglu, Kamilcan M.D.; de Planque, Catherine A. M.D.; Jupiter, Jesse B. M.D.; Eberlin, Kyle R. M.D.; Chen, Neal C. M.D.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: May 2020 - Volume 145 - Issue 5 - p 1204-1214

This well designed study reviewed revision carpal tunnel release in five urban hospitals over a period of 14 years.  During that time 7464 patients underwent carpal tunnel release and 113 patients underwent revision surgery.  Mean time to revision was 1.2 years.  Endoscopic release, male sex, smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, and undergoing staged or simultaneous bilateral carpal tunnel release were all found to be risk factors for revision surgery.

Link:

https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2020/05000/Revision_Carpal_Tunnel_Release__Risk_Factors_and.19.aspx

Top Journal Picks 

Top Journal Picks 2019

Top Journal Picks 2018

Top Journal Picks 2017