Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-05-30DOI: 10.1177/22925503261453079
Hedi Henry Zhao, Shreya Luthra, Hannah Wells, Erin Brown, Nicholas J Carr, Kevin Bush, Peter Lennox, Kathryn V Isaac
{"title":"Complications Following Flap Re-Elevation for Secondary Orthopaedic Lower Extremity Procedures: A Comparative Analysis of Muscle and Fasciocutaneous Flaps.","authors":"Hedi Henry Zhao, Shreya Luthra, Hannah Wells, Erin Brown, Nicholas J Carr, Kevin Bush, Peter Lennox, Kathryn V Isaac","doi":"10.1177/22925503261453079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/22925503261453079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Increased limb salvage rates necessitate greater attention to flap durability during subsequent staged or revisional orthopedic procedures in the lower extremity. Direct evidence comparing outcomes in this specific context is limited, thus we compared the performance of muscle flaps (MF) and fasciocutaneous flaps (FCF) and sought to identify predictors of complications following flap re-elevation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adults (>18 years) with lower extremity injuries (knee and below) who underwent flap reconstruction and subsequent flap re-elevation for a secondary orthopedic procedure between years 2000 and 2020 were reviewed. Patient factors, operative details, and postoperative trajectory were documented. Complications following a secondary orthopedic procedure were classified as minor or major (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III). Categorical data were assessed for independence with Fisher Exact test and continuous variables with Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 64 patients included (MF = 52, FCF = 12), 14.1% experienced a major complication with similar rates between FCFs (<i>n =</i> 2, 16.7%) and MFs (<i>n =</i> 7, 13.5%). However, the occurrence of a primary complication (OR = 7.82, CI [1.47-41.66]) and an unplanned secondary orthopedic procedure (<i>n =</i> 9, 100%) were strong predictors of major complications after flap re-elevation. Current smoking (OR = 6.39, CI [1.43-28.53]) and alcohol use (OR = 9.0, CI [1.92-42.40]) were also significant risk factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings indicate that the risk of flap failure is primarily associated with patient factors and peri-operative trajectory, rather than flap type alone. We propose minimizing unplanned flap re-elevations or primary complications by selecting a flap that optimally obliterates dead space and provides durable coverage.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261453079"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13222222/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148144363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-05-26DOI: 10.1177/22925503261453844
Gabriel Kuper, Joshua Vortenbosch, Tyler Safran
{"title":"Commentary: Evaluating the Utility and Impact of Canadian Plastic Surgery Residency Programs' Instagram Accounts on Resident Recruitment and Engagement.","authors":"Gabriel Kuper, Joshua Vortenbosch, Tyler Safran","doi":"10.1177/22925503261453844","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/22925503261453844","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261453844"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13212418/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148055835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Alignment of Learning Objectives in Canadian Plastic Surgery Residency Programs.","authors":"Cameron J Leong, Stephanie Cooper, Rebecca Courtemanche, David Tang, Terence Kwan-Wong","doi":"10.1177/22925503261448829","DOIUrl":"10.1177/22925503261448829","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Competence by Design (CBD) is a model of medical education developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. CBD emphasizes an outcomes-based approach to residency training, replacing traditional models of time-based training. CBD focuses on the achievement of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), which are key tasks of a discipline. Misalignment of educational priorities between teachers and learners can negatively impact learning and quality of care. This study aims to compare the learning priorities of plastic surgery residents and attendings, as well as explore perceptions of CBD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online survey was administered to plastic surgery residents and attendings identified via the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons mailing list. Participants ranked milestones by learning priority using a 5-point Likert scale. Participants were also asked their opinions on CBD, and responses were analyzed thematically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 76 participants (25 residents and 51 attendings) responded to the survey (15% response rate). Residents ranked gathering a relevant clinical history as less important than attendings (odds ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.14-0.98, <i>P</i> = .049). Residents and attendings had comparable rankings for the other 18 EPA milestones. Thematic analysis revealed that while CBD is perceived to have benefits for trainees, concerns pertain to excessive administrative burden and subjective evaluation. There was also inconsistency in the way EPAs are utilized by attendings with regard to when they were initiated/completed and how milestones were scored.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, this exploratory study showed good concordance between resident and attending plastic surgeon prioritization of EPA milestones. Perceived benefits and limitations of CBD in plastic surgery are similar to those reported in other specialties. Many attendings have knowledge gaps in the implementation of EPA evaluations.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261448829"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13167915/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147942627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-05-06DOI: 10.1177/22925503261436340
Jacob Bouchard, Stefan Padeanu, Ophélie Doucet, Dominique Tremblay
{"title":"Brodie's Abscess of the Thumb: A Rare Complication of a Dog Bite.","authors":"Jacob Bouchard, Stefan Padeanu, Ophélie Doucet, Dominique Tremblay","doi":"10.1177/22925503261436340","DOIUrl":"10.1177/22925503261436340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brodie's abscess is a rare form of subacute osteomyelitis, most commonly affecting the metaphysis of long bones in pediatric patients. Involvement of the hand is exceptional, and its indolent course combined with nonspecific imaging features can make diagnosis challenging. Here, we describe a case of Brodie's abscess following an animal bite and compare it with the few reported cases of Brodie's abscess of the hand in the literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261436340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13149339/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147869178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-05-06DOI: 10.1177/22925503261446323
Berk B Ozmen, Victor F A Almeida, Ibrahim Berber, John Y Ha, Eliana F R Duraes, Raymond Isakov, Steven L Bernard, Risal S Djohan, Graham S Schwarz
{"title":"Comparative Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models for Breast Reconstruction Patient Education.","authors":"Berk B Ozmen, Victor F A Almeida, Ibrahim Berber, John Y Ha, Eliana F R Duraes, Raymond Isakov, Steven L Bernard, Risal S Djohan, Graham S Schwarz","doi":"10.1177/22925503261446323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/22925503261446323","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Patient education is crucial for informed decision-making in breast reconstruction surgery. Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as potential tools for providing medical information, but their comparative accuracy and reliability for specialized surgical topics remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the performance of multiple artificial intelligence (AI) models, including general-purpose LLMs and a specialized retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system, in providing breast reconstruction patient education. <b>Methods:</b> We developed 10 standardized breast reconstruction questions covering reconstruction options, complications, recovery, and insurance coverage. Five AI systems were evaluated: ChatGPT o3-high, ChatGPT 4.5, Grok 3, Claude Haiku 3.5, and our specialized MicroRAG system trained on 4876 microsurgical publications. Responses were assessed using the Global Quality Score (1-5 scale) by 4 plastic surgeons, measuring accuracy, relevance, clarity, and completeness. <b>Results:</b> Performance varied across models and question types, with each system demonstrating distinct strengths. ChatGPT o3-high achieved the highest overall mean score (3.73), followed by Grok 3 (3.55), Claude Haiku 3.5 (3.52), MicroRAG (3.42), and ChatGPT 4.5 (3.30). MicroRAG excelled in evidence-based clinical recovery topics, achieving perfect scores (5.0) for specialized areas and providing literature-cited responses. Statistical analysis revealed that ChatGPT o3-high significantly outperformed ChatGPT 4.5 (<i>P</i> = .005), while differences between other model pairs were not statistically significant. <b>Conclusions:</b> Different AI systems demonstrated complementary strengths for breast reconstruction patient education. While general-purpose LLMs like ChatGPT o3-high provided consistent performance across diverse patient information needs, specialized RAG systems like MicroRAG offered superior evidence-based responses in specific clinical domains. These findings indicate that healthcare providers should consider complementary system strengths and domain-specific requirements when selecting AI tools for patient education.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261446323"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13167921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147942625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-05-05DOI: 10.1177/22925503261446316
Frances Scheepers, Bhairvi T Mathur, Sheryl Palm, Travis Gordon, Rebecca Courtemanche, Stephanie Cooper, Sophia Shayan, Ye Shen, Jugpal S Arneja
{"title":"Predictors of Poor Speech Outcomes Following Primary Palatoplasty for Patients with Cleft Palate: Do Social Determinants of Health Impact Velopharyngeal Insufficiency?","authors":"Frances Scheepers, Bhairvi T Mathur, Sheryl Palm, Travis Gordon, Rebecca Courtemanche, Stephanie Cooper, Sophia Shayan, Ye Shen, Jugpal S Arneja","doi":"10.1177/22925503261446316","DOIUrl":"10.1177/22925503261446316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is an unfavorable outcome of primary palatoplasty. Clinical and surgical risk factors for VPI are well described, yet the impact of social determinants of health (SDoH) on VPI is less understood. This study aimed to estimate the effect of income, ethnicity, and geographical location on VPI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Non-syndromic patients who had primary palatoplasty at British Columbia Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, including income, ethnicity, and distance to hospital were collected, as well as primary palatoplasty details, VPI diagnosis, and any secondary speech surgery. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations with VPI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 209 patients were included: 30% (<i>n</i> = 63) developed VPI. Complete cleft palate was a significant predictor of VPI (odds ratio (OR) 4.35, <i>P</i> ≤ .001). Indigenous identity, sex assigned at birth, average income, and distance to the hospital were not predictors of VPI. For those with complete cleft palate, there was a 24% greater likelihood of developing VPI for every month older the patient was at the time of initial palate repair (OR 1.27, <i>P</i> = .018).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cleft palate severity and age at primary palatoplasty for patients with complete cleft palate had the largest effect on VPI. SDoH factors (income and geographical location) were not associated with VPI; however, there was a trend between Indigenous identity and the development of VPI. The effect of Indigenous identity was limited by incomplete data and may be an area of future research. These findings are reassuring for a multidisciplinary clinic with dedicated social work support in a public healthcare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261446316"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144287/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147841579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-05-04DOI: 10.1177/22925503261446318
Brooke Streeter, Michael Bezuhly
{"title":"The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Cleft Care: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Brooke Streeter, Michael Bezuhly","doi":"10.1177/22925503261446318","DOIUrl":"10.1177/22925503261446318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to support the diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical conditions. This scoping review examined AI applications in cleft lip and palate care, focusing on diagnosis/detection, surgical planning, and patient education. <b>Methods:</b> PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched. Results were uploaded to the Covidence systematic review software. Studies were included in the analysis if they described the use of AI in the context of cleft lip and palate diagnosis and detection, surgical planning, or patient education. <b>Results:</b> A total of 17 papers were identified. The use of AI in the context of cleft lip and palate surgery was recorded and collated. AI was found to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed through deep learning-based image classification and cephalometric landmark detection, particularly using convolutional neural networks. In surgical planning, AI models enabled automated presurgical plate design, severity grading, and postoperative outcome evaluation following orthognathic surgery. For patient education, large language models like ChatGPT show promise in improving the readability and clarity of materials, although challenges remain in maintaining medical accuracy and ensuring actionability. <b>Conclusion:</b> While AI applications in cleft lip and palate care are promising across diagnostic, surgical, and educational domains, translation into routine clinical practice is hindered by limited validation, small homogeneous datasets, and inconsistent methodologies. Future research should focus on clinical integration, standardized evaluation, equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize the potential of AI in cleft lip and palate care.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261446318"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139309/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147841647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-04-28DOI: 10.1177/2292550326140493
Sue Rim Baek, Rebecca Courtemanche, Matthew Boroditsky, Jugpal Arneja
{"title":"Quality of Life After Mustardé Otoplasty for Prominent Ears.","authors":"Sue Rim Baek, Rebecca Courtemanche, Matthew Boroditsky, Jugpal Arneja","doi":"10.1177/2292550326140493","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2292550326140493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Patient-indications for pursuing otoplasty for prominent ears and post-operative satisfaction vary. This study examines patients' quality of life (QoL) following Mustardé otoplasty for prominent ears and examines associations between surgical indications and post-operative ear appearance satisfaction on QoL. <b>Methods:</b> Patients who underwent Mustardé otoplasty for prominent ears from 2009 to 2023 were invited to complete the EAR-Q scale (scores range from 0 to 100), and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) or Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) (scores range from -100 to +100). Associations with QoL (GBI/GCBI score) and surgical indications were analyzed using linear regression. Associations between QoL (GBI/GCBI) and post-operative ear appearance satisfaction were analyzed using Spearman's correlation. <b>Results:</b> Forty-two patients completed the questionnaire (59% response rate, average age 18.9 years). Nearly all (41/42) patients reported a positive change in QoL. The median GBI and GCBI scores were 30.0 [16.7, 46.7] and 33.3 [17.7, 44.8], respectively. The median EAR-Q score was 64 (56.0-76.0). Patients whose primary indication was self-consciousness had, on average, a 13.8-point higher GBI/GCBI score than those with parent- or peer-driven indications (<i>P</i>=.04). <b>Conclusions:</b> In general, the Mustardé otoplasty was associated with an increase in patients' post-operative QoL and satisfaction with ear appearance. The greatest increases in QoL were seen when the indication for surgery was patient motivated (patient concern). These findings suggest that patient-driven motivation for surgery is associated with greater post-operative QoL improvements and may be an important consideration in surgical counselling and timing.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"2292550326140493"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13124910/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147819765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-04-25DOI: 10.1177/22925503261444295
Alyssa Nguyen, Colton H Connor, Claire Fell, Quinton L Carr, Ryan A Cantrell, Alessandra Spagnolia, Christian R Laurent, Bradon J Wilhelmi
{"title":"Achieving Breast Symmetry After Postmastectomy Radiation Through Contralateral Implant Modification Using Acellular Dermal Matrix Wrapped in a Bouffant Configuration.","authors":"Alyssa Nguyen, Colton H Connor, Claire Fell, Quinton L Carr, Ryan A Cantrell, Alessandra Spagnolia, Christian R Laurent, Bradon J Wilhelmi","doi":"10.1177/22925503261444295","DOIUrl":"10.1177/22925503261444295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Radiation therapy complicates implant-based breast reconstruction by inducing fibrosis, vascular compromise, and capsular contracture, often resulting in significant breast asymmetry. Reoperation on irradiated implant pockets carries a high risk of wound-healing complications and implant loss, limiting reconstructive options. We present a case demonstrating a contralateral reconstructive strategy to address radiation-induced asymmetry without revising the irradiated breast. A woman with a history of bilateral mastectomy and implant-based reconstruction developed severe asymmetry following postmastectomy radiation to the left breast. Given the patient's preference for the irradiated breast position and the risks of operating on irradiated tissue, revision was performed on the nonirradiated side using a narrow, ultra-high-profile implant wrapped in acellular dermal matrix that was positioned cephalad. This approach restored symmetry when surgical intervention of the irradiated breast was not advised, and nonsurgical treatment of the contracted breast was not preferred. This technique avoids the morbidity associated with operating on irradiated tissue and represents a safe, reproducible treatment option for select patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261444295"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13110250/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147779342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plastic surgeryPub Date : 2026-04-22DOI: 10.1177/22925503261436402
Mohammed Ehmidat, Ibrahim Khalil, Raghad Abuzant, Abdulrahman Ahmed Albalasy, Jamal Ahmad, Engy Amgad Nasr Tolis, Waheed Qaisi, Abdeljalil El Hilali, Amr Elzahy, Soffar Mohammed M
{"title":"Pure Alpha Versus Mixed Adrenergic Vasopressors Perioperative Outcomes in Autologous Free Flap Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Mohammed Ehmidat, Ibrahim Khalil, Raghad Abuzant, Abdulrahman Ahmed Albalasy, Jamal Ahmad, Engy Amgad Nasr Tolis, Waheed Qaisi, Abdeljalil El Hilali, Amr Elzahy, Soffar Mohammed M","doi":"10.1177/22925503261436402","DOIUrl":"10.1177/22925503261436402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Autologous free-flap reconstruction has transformed reconstructive surgery, restoring form and function in complex head, neck, breast, and limb defects. Maintaining stable perfusion during surgery is essential, yet the choice of vasopressor remains controversial. Surgeons have long feared that α-adrenergic vasoconstriction might jeopardise microcirculation, despite increasing evidence to the contrary. Whether specific vasopressor classes differ in their impact on flap survival has remained uncertain. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO-registered). Eligible randomised controlled trials and observational cohort studies compared perioperative phenylephrine (pure α-agonist) with mixed α/β-agonists (norepinephrine or ephedrine) in adult free-flap surgery. Primary outcomes were flap failure and surgical revision for microvascular compromise; secondary outcomes included thrombosis. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effects models. <b>Results:</b> Nine studies (two randomised controlled trials [RCTs], seven cohorts) comprising 7181 patients and 8626 flaps were included. Overall flap failure was low (3%), but norepinephrine was associated with higher failure (6%) compared to phenylephrine (2%) and ephedrine (2%). Surgical revision occurred in 12% overall, with norepinephrine again higher (15%) versus phenylephrine (2%). Thrombosis occurred in 7% overall, most frequently with norepinephrine (11%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, though heterogeneity was high and publication bias could not be excluded. <b>Conclusions:</b> In contemporary free-flap surgery, vasopressors are not uniformly harmful - but choice may matter. Phenylephrine and ephedrine were associated with fewer surgical revisions and thrombotic events compared to norepinephrine. While absolute differences in flap failure were small, the higher complication rates with norepinephrine warrant caution, and agent selection should be individualised. Further randomised trials are needed to refine hemodynamic management strategies in microvascular reconstruction.</p>","PeriodicalId":20206,"journal":{"name":"Plastic surgery","volume":" ","pages":"22925503261436402"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13102745/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147778207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}