Use of Social Media and an Online Survey to Discuss Complex Reconstructive Surgery: A Case of Upper Lip Reconstruction with 402 Responses from International Microsurgeons

Abstract

Background The best reconstructive strategy for upper lip defects is still in debate. The purpose of this study was to analyze the decisions made by international microsurgeons, who were participated through online questionnaire, distributed by email and social media network.

Materials and Methods A case of a two-thirds upper lip oncologic defect was presented via an online questionnaire and 402 microsurgeons replied their treatment options. The data were then analyzed according to the geographic area, microsurgical fellowship, seniority, and subspecialty. All the data were analyzed using SPSS 22.

Results A total of 27.7% of microsurgeons chose a free flap, while 72.3% chose a local/pedicle flap as their preferred method for reconstruction. The most common choice of free and local/pedicle flaps was radial forearm (73.6%) and Abbé (36.2%), respectively. The microsurgeons in Europe preferred local/pedicle flaps than free flap when compared with Middle/South America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and South Asia/Middle East (11.6% versus 50%, 43.4%, 29.3% and 27.3%, respectively, multivariant p < 0.05). The microsurgeons with microsurgical fellowships preferred to use free flaps (32.9% versus 17.5%, multivariant p = 0.021). There was no difference for the seniority and specialty of the microsurgeons.

Conclusions The online questionnaire is valuable and feasible for obtaining experts' opinions. This study provides a current global overview of surgical preferences for this common complicated clinical scenario.

Keywords

upper lip defect - free flap - local flap - pedicle flap - online questionnaire

Financial Disclosure Statement

None of the authors have a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this manuscript. No specific funding was received for this study.

• References

• 1 Pittenger AL. The use of social networking to improve the quality of interprofessional education. Am J Pharm Educ 2013; 77 (08) 174
• 2 Smith AB, King M, Butow P, Olver I. A comparison of data quality and practicality of online versus postal questionnaires in a sample of testicular cancer survivors. Psychooncology 2013; 22 (01) 233-237
• 3 McCarn KE, Park SS. Lip reconstruction. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2005; 13 (02) 301-314 , vii vii.
• 4 Ishii LE, Byrne PJ. Lip reconstruction. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2009; 17 (03) 445-453
• 5 Baumann D, Robb G. Lip reconstruction. Semin Plast Surg 2008; 22 (04) 269-280
• 6 Fabris AL, Bonardi JP, de Moraes Ferreira AC. , et al. Upper lip reconstruction. J Craniofac Surg 2016; 27 (05) 1374-1375
• 7 Martin TJ, Zhang Y, Rhee JS. Options for upper lip reconstruction: a survey-based analysis. Dermatol Surg 2008; 34 (12) 1652-1658
• 8 Yih WY, Howerton DW. A regional approach to reconstruction of the upper lip. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1997; 55 (04) 383-389
• 9 Kao HK, Chang KP, Wei FC, Cheng MH. Comparison of the medial sural artery perforator flap with the radial forearm flap for head and neck reconstructions. Plast Reconstr Surg 2009; 124 (04) 1125-1132
• 10 Burget GCMF, Menick FJ. Aesthetic restoration of one-half the upper lip. Plast Reconstr Surg 1986; 78 (05) 583-593
• 11 Vardanian AJ, Kusnezov N, Im DD, Lee JC, Jarrahy R. Social media use and impact on plastic surgery practice. Plast Reconstr Surg 2013; 131 (05) 1184-1193
• 12 Chang JB, Woo SL, Cederna PS. Worth the “Likes”? The use of Facebook among plastic surgeons and its perceived impact. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015; 135 (05) 909e-918e
• 13 Diepgen TL, Mahler V. The epidemiology of skin cancer. Br J Dermatol 2002; 146 (Suppl. 61) 1-6
• 14 Li-Tsang CW, Lau JC, Chan CC. Prevalence of hypertrophic scar formation and its characteristics among the Chinese population. Burns 2005; 31 (05) 610-616
• 15 Cavadas PC, Sanz-Giménez-Rico JR, Gutierrez-de la Cámara A, Navarro-Monzonís A, Soler-Nomdedeu S, Martínez-Soriano F. The medial sural artery perforator free flap. Plast Reconstr Surg 2001; 108 (06) 1609-1615 , discussion 1616–1617
• 16 Abdelrahman M. The microsurgery fellowship at Chang Gung memorial hospital: blossom of caterpillars. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2015; 3 (04) e376
• 17 Al Deek NF, Lalonde DH. Fu-Chan Wei-surgeon, innovator, and leader of the legendary Chang Gung Microsurgery Center. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2016; 4 (09) e1042
• 18 Koshima I, Yamamoto T, Narushima M, Mihara M, Iida T. Perforator flaps and supermicrosurgery. Clin Plast Surg 2010; 37 (04) 683-689 , vii–iii vii–iii.
• 19 Hong JP, Koshima I. Using perforators as recipient vessels (supermicrosurgery) for free flap reconstruction of the knee region. Ann Plast Surg 2010; 64 (03) 291-293
• 20 Kao HK, Chang KP, Chen YA, Wei FC, Cheng MH. Anatomical basis and versatile application of the free medial sural artery perforator flap for head and neck reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2010; 125 (04) 1135-1145
• 21 Song X, Wu H, Zhang W. , et al. Medial sural artery perforator flap for postsurgical reconstruction of head and neck cancer. J Reconstr Microsurg 2015; 31 (04) 319-326