Impact of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The "impact" of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was evaluated by bibliometric analysis. This technique considers the average frequency with which journal authors refer to articles published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The impact of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was compared with that of journals most commonly referred to within Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as with that of journals read most commonly by Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery subscribers, such as the Annals of Plastic Surgery and the Journal of Hand Surgery (both American and British editions). The impact factor for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was at least twice as great as for any other journal related to this surgical subspecialty. With regard to other surgical subspecialties, while the impact factor for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was less than that of the Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of Urology, and Journal of Ophthalmology, it was greater than those for orthopedics, otolaryngology, hand surgery, and dermatologic surgery.     

Plastic Surgery: Lymphedema

The Scientific Board of the California Medical Association presents the following inventory of items of progress in plastic surgery. Each item, in the judgment of a panel of knowledgeable physicians, has recently become reasonably firmly established, both as to scientific fact and important clinical significance. The items are presented in simple epitome, and an authoritative reference, both to the item itself and to the subject as a whole, is generally given for those who may be unfamiliar with a particular item. The purpose is to assist busy practitioners, students, researchers, or scholars to stay abreast of these items of progress in plastic surgery that have recently achieved a substantial degree of authoritative acceptance, whether in their own field of special interest or another.The items of progress listed below were selected by the Advisory Panel to the Section on Plastic Surgery of the California Medical Association, and the summaries were prepared under its direction.     

Plastic Surgery: Face-lift and Blepharoplasty

The Council on Scientific Affairs of the California Medical Association presents the following inventory of items of progress in plastic surgery. Each item, in the judgement of a panel of knowledgeable physicians, has recently become reasonably firmly established, both as to scientific fact and important clinical significance. The items are presented in simple epitome, and an authoritative reference, both to the item itself and to the subject as a whole, is generally given for those who may be unfamiliar with a particular item. The purpose is to assist busy practitioners, students, researchers, and scholars to stay abreast of these items of progress in plastic surgery that have recently achieved a substantial degree of authoritative acceptance, whether in their own field of special interest or another.The items of progress listed below were selected by the Advisory Panel to the Section on Plastic Surgery of the California Medical Association, and the summaries were prepared under its direction.     

Preserved Tissue Allografts in Reconstructive Surgery

Results of treatment with three various kinds of allografts: lyophilized bone, deep frozen bone and cartilage preserved in physiological solution, all of them radiation-sterilized are presented. We believe that this presentation may be helpful in estimating the tissue bank's allografts and in establishing indications and contraindications in the application of allografts in surgery. The ‘indices of coincidence’ were compared in a group of 1014 patients after bone (lyophilized and radiation-sterilized) transplantation. It seems that such a variable as ‘rebuilding of graft’ may be of prognostic value in analysing the results of treatment in this group. The application of frozen and radiation-sterilized allogenic bone grafts for reconstructions is also described. An analysis of the results of treatment in 1125 patients reveals that the use of preserved bone reduces the extent and duration of surgery. Almost total substitution of grafts may be seen in 3–8 months after surgery. Allogenic, preserved cartilage is often used in facial reconstructions of face. Human costal cartilage, preserved in 0.9% NaCl and radiation-sterilized, was used for reconstruction. The patients were examined 24–190 months after surgery (in several clinical units) and results were collected in a special questionnaire by the team that performed surgery. In an analysed group of 437 patients after cartilage transplantation, 42.2% were operated because of posttraumatical changes, 29.0% because of congenital malformations and in 16.7% non-specific inflammations were the cause of reconstructive operations. Malformations were located mainly in the nose (59%), the ear concha (16.5%) and 10.9% were mandible. The results of treatment were compared with ages of patients, diagnosis and the locations of the changes. Very good results were achieved in 33.5% of the patients, and satisfactory in 41.8% of the patients. However, in 19.9% of the patients the result of treatment was unsatisfactory. Correlation between some clinical and biological characteristics and the result of treatment is under discussion. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.