Standardization of outcome measurement using a patient-centered approach in pediatric facial palsy may help aid the advancement of clinical care in this population. To develop a standardized outcome measurement set for pediatric patients with facial palsy through an international multidisciplinary group of health care professionals, researchers, and patients and patient representatives. A working group of health care experts and patient representatives (n = 21), along with external reviewers, participated in the study. Seven teleconferences were conducted over a 9-month period between December 3, 2016, and September 23, 2017, under the guidance of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement, each followed with a 2-round Delphi process to develop consensus. This process defined the scope, outcome domains, measurement tools, time points for measurements, and case-mix variables deemed essential to a standardized outcome measurement set. Each teleconference was informed by a comprehensive review of literature and through communication with patient advisory groups. Literature review of PubMed was conducted for research published between January 1, 1981, and November 30, 2016. The study aim was to develop the outcomes and measures relevant to children with facial palsy as opposed to studying the effect of a particular intervention. The 21 members of the working group included pediatric facial palsy experts from 9 countries. The literature review identified 1628 papers, of which 395 (24.3%) were screened and 83 (5.1%) were included for qualitative evaluation. A standard set of outcome measurements was designed by the working group to allow the recording of outcomes after all forms of surgical and nonsurgical facial palsy treatments among pediatric patients of all ages. Unilateral or bilateral, congenital or acquired, permanent or temporary, and single-territory or multiterritory facial palsy can be evaluated using this standard set. Functional, appearance, psychosocial, and administrative outcomes were selected for inclusion. Clinimetric and psychometric outcome measurement tools (clinician-, patient-, and patient proxy-reported) and time points for measuring patient outcomes were established. Eighty-six independent reviews of the standard set were completed, and 34 (85%) of the 40 patients and patient representatives and 44 (96%) of the 46 health care professionals who participated in the reviews agreed that the standard set would capture the outcomes that matter most to children with facial palsy. This international collaborative study produced a free standardized set of outcome measures for evaluating the quality of care provided to pediatric patients with facial palsy, allowing benchmarking of clinicians, comparison of treatment pathways, and introduction of value-based reimbursement strategies in the field of pediatric facial palsy. NA.

Although the development of persistent opioid use after surgical procedures has garnered much attention in recent years, large-scale studies characterizing patterns of persistent opioid use among patients undergoing plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures are lacking. To assess the prevalence of immediate and long-term postoperative opioid use after plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures. In this population-based cohort study, patients who underwent 5 classes of plastic and reconstructive procedures (nasal, eye, breast, abdomen, and soft tissue reconstruction) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, were identified using IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental research databases. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years, lacked continuous insurance coverage for 1 year preoperatively and postoperatively, had a second anesthesia event within 1 year postoperatively, and filled an opioid prescription within the year prior to surgery. Analgesic prescription patterns in the immediate postoperative period. The primary outcome was rates of persistent opioid use (opioid prescriptions filled 90-180 days postoperatively). The secondary outcome was rates of prolonged opioid use (opioid prescriptions filled 90-180 days postoperatively and again 181-365 days postoperatively). Explanatory variables included patient demographics, procedure type, and relevant comorbidities. Of the 466 677 patients who met inclusion criteria, 96 397 (45.3%) were men, and the mean (SD) age was 46.8 (17.7) years. Furthermore, 212 387 (54.6%) of the patients filled prescriptions for postoperative analgesics, with 212 387 (91.5%) of analgesic prescriptions filled being for opioids. Persistent opioid use occurred in 30 865 (6.6%) patients (5.1%-13.5% across procedure classes), while prolonged opioid use occurred in 10 487 (2.3%) patients (1.7%-5.6% across procedure classes). Patients who filled prescriptions for opioids in the perioperative period were significantly more likely to exhibit persistent (odds ratio [OR], 2.87; 95% CI, 2.80-2.94) and prolonged (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 2.77-3.02) opioid use than those who did not fill perioperative opioid prescriptions, with the greatest odds for persistent use found in patients who underwent breast (OR, 4.36; 95% CI, 4.10-4.63) and nasal (OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 3.30-3.73) procedures. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for persistent and prolonged opioid use included perioperative opioid use, procedure type, and prior-year mental health (depression and anxiety) and substance abuse diagnoses. Given the significant risk of persistent opioid use after plastic and reconstructive procedures, it is imperative to develop best practices guidelines for postoperative opioid prescription practices in this population. NA.

Facial flap procedures may be difficult for surgical trainees to conceptualize and challenging for supervising surgeons to allow entrustment early in training. Simulation outside of the operating room may accelerate and enhance the surgical education experience. To design and manufacture a 3-dimensional (3-D)-printed, multilayer, anatomically accurate facial flap model for use in surgical education. In this multicenter validation study, a 3-D-printed facial flap simulator was designed from a computed tomographic (CT) scan and manufactured for low-cost, high-fidelity simulation. Expert otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon feedback was acquired through surgical rehearsal and performance of 8 local facial flap procedures on the facial flap simulator by 7 otolaryngologists fellowship trained in facial plastic surgery. Likert scale surveys were made based on evaluation criteria categorized into domains of realism, experience, and applicability of the simulator. Measures of central tendency, variability, and confidence intervals were generated to evaluate the outcomes. Seven expert otolaryngology-head and neck surgeons completed a Likert scale evaluation survey containing quantitative analysis of 6 questions on physical attributes, 12 questions on realism, 8 questions on experience, and 4 questions on the applicability of the simulator. All expert surgeons were additionally fellowship trained in facial plastic surgery with their mean years in practice being 11.9. Overall evaluation demonstrated valuable ability of the simulator for medical education with suggestions for future directions. Importantly, the simulator was rated on a scale of 1 (no value) to 4 (great value) as 3.86 as a training tool, 3.57 as a competency evaluation tool, and 3.43 as a rehearsal tool. Expert experience with the local facial flap simulator was rated highly for realism, experience, performance, and usefulness. With slight refinement, the model has strong potential for broad use in training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and facial plastic surgery. NA.

Complications that arise after treatment of mandible fractures can result in significant morbidity. Identifying modifiable risk factors associated with these complications is valuable in guiding clinical practice for improved patient outcomes. To describe the risk factors associated with complications in patients undergoing treatment for mandible fracture. A retrospective review was conducted of 137 patients presenting to a tertiary care, level 1 trauma center with mandible fractures between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2017. Outcomes and demographic characteristics for patients with at least 3 weeks of follow-up were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Of the 137 patients meeting inclusion criteria, there were 113 males (82.5%) and 24 females (17.5%), with a mean (SD) age at presentation of 32.3 (15.7) years. Median follow-up was 71 days (range, 22-1189 days). Postoperative complications were identified in 29 patients (21.2%); complications included wound dehiscence or surgical site infection (n = 17), bony nonunion (n = 5), and hardware exposure (n = 13). Complications were managed surgically in 19 patients and nonsurgically in 10 patients. On univariate analysis, the initial surgery was completed later (mean [SD], 5.9 [6.6] days after injury) in patients who developed complications than in those who did not (mean [SD], 3.8 [4.0] days). On multivariate analysis, complications were associated with increased time from injury to treatment (odds ratio [OR], 1.60; 95% CI, 1.02-2.53; P = .04), tobacco use (OR, 8.10; 95% CI, 1.26-52.00; P = .03), and dental extraction (OR, 93.00; 95% CI, 1.19 to >999.00; P = .04). Residence in the same city as the medical center was associated with fewer complications (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.69; P = .02). In a 3-year review of mandible fractures managed at a single academic center, complications were associated with an increased time to treatment, tobacco use, dental extraction, and living farther from the treatment facility. On a systems level, the results of this study suggest that expediting intervention for mandible fractures may improve outcomes. 3.