Eberlin KR

[BACKGROUND] Lower extremity free flap reconstruction (LE-FFR) is essential for significant soft-tissue defects, but prolonged hospital stays can negatively impact patients and health care systems. This study aimed to identify factors assoc…

[CASE PRESENTATION] A 27-year-old woman sustained a 6% total body surface area chemical burn after a golf cart accident, resulting in full-thickness injury to the left lower extremity (LE) with exposed talus and transected extensor/peroneal…

Management of patients with limb-threatening pathology represents a clinical challenge. Orthoplastic limb salvage centers have been developed to streamline care and improve patient outcomes for complex extremity pathology. However, no forma…

[LEARNING OBJECTIVES] After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand operative techniques for harvesting several different types of free flaps with sensory innervation. 2. Describe options for donor nerves for…

[INTRODUCTION] Sequential free flaps are often utilized for complex defects, particularly for recurrent head and neck tumors. However, their application in lower extremity (LE) reconstruction following trauma or oncology is less common. Thi…

[BACKGROUND] With robotic microsurgical systems (RMSs) gaining increasing interest in clinical application, user feedback is crucial for their future development. Additionally, understanding the realistic advantages and limitations of RMSs …

[BACKGROUND]  Lower extremity free flap failure rates are higher than in other areas of the body. While prior studies assessed the effect of intraoperative technical variables, these generally investigated individual variables and did not e…

Scar tissue formation presents a significant barrier to peripheral nerve recovery in clinical practice. While different experimental methods have been described, there is no clinically available gold standard for its prevention. This study …

[BACKGROUND] Adequate vascular anatomy and perfusion status are essential for successful lower extremity free tissue transfer. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is widely available, minimally invasive, and enables visualization of soft …

[OBJECTIVE] Rooted in economics market strategies, preference signaling was introduced to the Plastic Surgery Common Application (PSCA) in 2022 for integrated plastic surgery residency applicants. This study surveyed program and applicant e…

The impact of clinical prediction models within artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is significant. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data and identify complex patterns, machine learning has the potential to improve …

This review aims to highlight the common pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions utilized for thromboprophylaxis as well as flap salvage in microsurgery. A literature review was conducted in PubMed/National Center for Biotechno…

[BACKGROUND] Microsurgical free-tissue transfer is often the definitive reconstructive option for lower extremity limb salvage. Despite an initial successful free-flap reconstruction, some patients ultimately undergo lower extremity amputat…

[CASE] We present the case of a 47-year-old paraplegic woman who underwent resection of an intermediate-grade chondrosarcoma in the proximal ulna, which was initially reconstructed with an osteoarticular allograft. However, after more than …

[BACKGROUND] Peripheral nerve pathology is frequently encountered in clinical practice among peripheral nerve and extremity surgeons. One major factor limiting nerve regeneration and possibly leading to revision surgeries is the development…

[BACKGROUND] Microsurgical free tissue transfer may be the only reconstructive option for lower extremity limb salvage. However, the functional and aesthetic results following free tissue transfer after initial salvage may be suboptimal, th…

[OBJECTIVE] Step 1 will transition to a pass/fail system in 2022. This study aimed to characterize the effects of this change on integrated plastic surgery program directors' selection criteria and assess whether Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (…

In the wake of the recent coronavirus disease of 2019 public health emergency, care delivery by means of telemedicine using audiovisual virtual platforms has become an important tool for patient communication. There are many logistic, medic…

[BACKGROUND] Plastic surgeons have been early adopters of social media, and the efficacy and ethics of this practice have been studied. In addition, plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) training programs have begun using social media to…

The United States Medical Licensing Examination announced the changing of Step 1 score reporting from a three-digit number to pass/fail beginning on January 1, 2022. Plastic surgery residency programs have traditionally used United States M…

[BACKGROUND] With the advancement of technology, electronic communication has become an important mode of communication within plastic and reconstructive surgery. This can take the form of e-mail, text messaging, video conferencing, and soc…

The John D. Constable International Traveling Fellowship has been an integral part of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons since 2006 and has provided an opportunity for international plastic surgeons to work with leaders in America…

[BACKGROUND] Breast reconstruction with implants after tissue expansion is one of the most common methods of reconstruction. Although this approach is generally reliable, exchange of breast tissue expander for implant through the standard a…