Gender Disparities Among Craniofacial Surgeons.

To delineate career differences between genders of practicing plastic surgeons who have completed craniofacial fellowship given the known disparities in surgeons' professional and personal lives and an already lengthy residency training, there is concern that less women may commit to further fellowship training.Craniofacial fellowship programs were contacted to identify graduates and an internet search was attempted where information was not available. Surgeon profiles and literature databases were used to obtain practice demographics and publications.Accredited fellowships were identified through the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons directory.Program responses along with internet searches identified 201 graduates from 26 programs, of which 132 (66%) were men and 69 (34%) were women. On average, male graduates had 7.1 years in practice versus 6.6 years for females graduates (P = .176). There were significant differences between average number of publications (24.7 publications for males vs 14.1 for females, P = .009) and academic practice (46% males vs 64% females, P = .018). A similar percentage of males and females held leadership positions (13% males vs 16%, P = .552).Despite similar years in practice, men had significantly higher publications while women were significantly more likely to practice in an academic setting. Females are increasing their representation in academia and leadership within the craniofacial community. However, efforts must still be directed at increasing exposure to craniofacial surgery and supporting research and leadership pursuits earlier on during their careers.

Expanding the Utilization of Low-Dose Computed Tomography in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Based on Validated Practices Among Surgical Specialties.

INTRODUCTION: As computed tomography (CT) usage increases, so have concerns over radiation-induced malignancy. To mitigate these risks, low-dose CT (LDCT) has emerged as a versatile alternative by other specialties, although its use in plastic surgery remains sparse. This study aimed to investigate validated uses of LDCT across surgical specialties and extrapolate these insights to expand its application for plastic surgeons. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines using search terms "low dose CT" OR "low dose computed tomography" AND "surgery," where the name of each surgical specialty was substituted for word "surgery" and each specialty term was searched separately in combination with the 2 CT terms. Data on radiation dose, outcomes, and level of evidence were collected. Validated surgical applications were correlated with similar procedures and diagnostic tests performed routinely by plastic surgeons to extrapolate potential applications for plastic surgeons. RESULTS: A total of 3505 articles were identified across surgical specialties, with 27 ultimately included. Depending on the application, use of LDCT led to a 25% to 97% reduction in radiation dose and all studies reported noninferior image quality and diagnostic capability compared with standard-dose CT. Potential identified uses included the following: evaluation of soft tissue infections, preoperative and postoperative management of facial and hand fractures, flap design, 3D modeling, and surgical planning. DISCUSSION: Low-dose CT is a valid imaging alternative to standard-dose CT. Expanded utilization in plastic surgery should be considered to minimize the iatrogenic effects of radiation and to promote patient safety without compromising outcomes.