Fasciocutaneous flaps use skin, fat, and fascia (without muscle) for thin, pliable, well-vascularized coverage. Supplied by perforator-fed plexuses, they’re classified by vascular entry or pedicle type. Ideal for trauma and oncologic reconstruction, with low donor morbidity and muscle preservation.
Also: The Sunday quiz, original Quaba flap, & AI surgical studio update.
This study highlights large cost disparities for IMGs in plastic surgery sub-internships: fewer program acceptances and fees 17x higher. IMGs' median cost for ~4.5 away rotations is ~$9K vs. ~$500 for US peers, emphasizing the need for standardized fees and scholarships.
Burn size guides triage, fluids, and outcomes. Lund-Browder is most accurate, especially in children. Rule of Nines is quick but less precise in kids/obesity. Palmar method is handy for small burns. The revised Baux score uses age, TBSA, and inhalation risk to predict mortality. Accuracy is vital.
Also: A fresh round of the Sunday quiz, retention rate of fat grafts, & stats on matching in plastic surgery.
Burn management depends on type, depth, extent, location, and patient factors. Initial care includes cooling, preventing hypothermia, ABCDE assessment, and fluid resuscitation. Wound care involves debridement, dressings, and grafting. Complications range from sepsis to scarring.
Fat grafting transfers autologous adipose tissue for volume restoration, contour correction, and tissue repair. The process involves harvesting, processing, and reinjection. Key complications include fat resorption, necrosis, and embolism.
Upper limb cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, causing erythema, warmth, and swelling. Diagnosis is clinical and involves imaging. Treatment includes cephalexin for mild cases, IV antibiotics for severe infections, and drainage for abscesses.
Also: Proper propranolol dosing, calling expert reviewers for the textbook, & 3 recommended articles.
The aim of this section is to improve your diagnostic skills in treating a common plastic surgery condition. A good
Also: Final round of the Sunday quiz, pincushioning explained, & original local flap publications.
Rotation flaps are curvilinear pivotal flaps ideal for triangular defect repair, commonly used for facial, cheek, chin, and scalp reconstruction. Success depends on defect triangulation, flap circumference, and pivot point positioning. Post-op focuses on hematoma prevention and sun avoidance.
Also: A video breakdown of SMAS lift Botox, the Sunday quiz, & 3 eyelid recon reads.
TXA is widely used in plastic surgery, especially in facelifts (83.6%) and rhinoplasty (55.0%), reducing bleeding (61.8%) and bruising (63.2%). Common methods include 1 g IV bolus or 3% topical solution, with 92.4% reporting no complications. Despite benefits, standardization is needed.
Finger replantation restores function, sensation, and aesthetics following the traumatic or surgical loss of a digit. Success depends on injury type, ischemia time, and microsurgical repair. Complications like venous insufficiency and arterial thrombosis require early management.
Also: The Sunday quiz, nerve recon tip, & 3 recommended reads.
Facial nerve palsy affects ages 15–45, with the most common cause Bell’s palsy. Diagnosis includes history, exam, grading (House-Brackmann), EMG, and imaging. Treatment: Static (symmetry) or dynamic (nerve grafts, transfers, muscle flaps). Key complications are keratitis, synkinesis, & asymmetry.
Also: Podcast guest suggestions, the Sunday quiz, & recommended reads of the week.
Upper eyelid reconstruction restores function and aesthetics after trauma, tumors, or congenital defects. Small defects heal with direct closure; larger ones need flaps or grafts. Key concerns: corneal protection, tension-free closure, and symmetry.
Laser treatments provide minimally invasive procedures in resurfacing, scar revision, & lesion removal. Mechanisms involve collimated, monochromatic, & coherent light-targeting chromophores.
Also: The Sunday quiz, pulley release evidence, & 3 recommended articles.
Breast Ptosis is the descent of the nipple below the inframammary fold, caused by aging, pregnancy, weight changes, and genetics. Classified into Grades 1–3 (Regnault system), it’s managed with mastopexy, augmentation, or reduction, with risks like hematoma, infection, and scarring.
Also: A new round of the Sunday quiz, mesh measurements tip, 3 recommended flap reads.
Also: Sunday quiz winners, meet the fellows, & 3 recommended reads.
