In this week's edition
- ✍️ Letter from P'Fella
The Annual Plastic Surgery Letter (new) - 🤓 The Sunday Quiz
How well do you know the VRAM flap? - 🖼️ Image of the Week
Gracilis muscle flap in reconstructive surgery. - 🚑 Technique Tip
The original publication of latissimus dorsi flap from 1908. - 📘 Foundations Textbook
Initial steps of building in public: Format review. - 📖 What Does the Evidence Say
Donor site morbidity for muscle flaps. - 🔥 Articles of the Week
Perfusion zones of the abdomen, original gastrocnemius flap publication, & muscle flaps in the lower limb: with 1 sentence summaries. - 💕 Feedback
Suggest ideas & give feedback!
A Letter from P'Fella
The Annual Plastic Surgery Letter
This year, we've tackled the big questions about plastic surgery: What’s thriving? What’s failing? What’s holding us back? Now, it’s time to bring it all together into an annual letter—a bold, honest look at where we are and where we’re headed.
This annual letter we are creating isn't just about thePlasticsFella. It will reflect our community. Over the years, we've heard sharp insights and uncomfortable truths from many of you—now’s your chance to shape the conversation.
What Should We Include?
I’ve got a shortlist of hot topics—trends, challenges, and breakthroughs. But what about you? What burning questions do you want answered? What’s not getting enough attention? Got advice everyone needs to hear?
But now it's your chance to help shape this letter 👇
Plastic surgery is in a tug-of-war between perception vs. reality. This letter will cut through the noise and deliver something sharp and useful and be published at the end of the year.
Let’s make this big.
P'Fella ❤️
The Sunday Quiz
How Well Do You Know the VRAM Flap?
Welcome to a fresh round of The Weekly Quiz.
Each edition of thePlasticsPaper includes a quiz question designed to challenge and engage our readers. Keep your wits about you and join in every week — the winner at the end of six rounds will earn you a one-year subscription to thePlasticsPro.
Image of the Week
Gracilis Muscle Flap
In this section, we feature an anatomical illustration. Discover the detailed anatomy and clinical applications of the gracilis muscle flap in, highlighting its versatility in reconstructive surgery.
Technique Tip
The Original LD Flap from 1908
This week’s edition dives into the original publication of the LD flap from 1908, shedding light on its historical significance and foundational role in surgical techniques.
Foundations Textbook
Initial Steps: Building in Public
Join us on the journey of creating the Plastic Surgery Student Guide!
Step one: Your feedback on the content format to ensure it’s impactful and student-friendly.
What Does the Evidence Say?
Donor Site Morbidity for Muscle Flaps
The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap generally has low complication rates and minimal functional impairment, with most patients returning to preoperative activity levels (Hanasono et al., 2010). However, some studies report sensory disturbances and muscle weakness following ALT flap harvest (Weise et al., 2017; Collins et al., 2012).
Latissimus dorsi flaps may cause shoulder function impairment, particularly in extension, adduction, and internal rotation (Lee & Mun, 2014). Muscle-sparing techniques for latissimus dorsi flaps show reduced morbidity compared to extended flaps (Kim et al., 2013).
The gracilis muscle flap demonstrates similar functional outcomes to the ALT flap but with shorter scars and less numbness (Fricke et al., 2017).
Articles of the Week
3 Interesting Articles with 1 Sentence Summaries
This study challenges Hartrampf DIEP flap perfusion zones, revealing midline-separated perfusion patterns and suggesting zone rearrangement for accuracy.
Explore the versatile use of medial and lateral gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps, replacing cross-leg flaps for lower extremity reconstruction without prior delay.
Fasciocutaneous flaps show fewer complications than muscle flaps in secondary orthopedic procedures, supporting their preferential use for lower extremity reconstruction.
