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J Reconstr Microsurg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2555-2055
Original Article

Microsurgery Education among U.S. Plastic Surgery Residency Programs

Emily R. Finkelstein 
1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
,
Yasmina Samaha
2   Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, Florida
,
Alex Harris
3   St. George's University, West Indies, Grenada
,
Meaghan Clark
3   St. George's University, West Indies, Grenada
4   Ross University School of Medicine, Christ Church, Barbados
,
Devinder Singh
1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
,
Kyle Y. Xu
1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
,
Juan Mella-Catinchi
1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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Abstract

Background

Microsurgery is a core component of U.S. plastic surgery residency curriculum. This study compares publicly available information on microsurgery curricula and training among U.S. plastic surgery residency programs, while evaluating the background and experience of microsurgeon faculty at these institutions.

Methods

The authors performed a cross-sectional web search on 103 accredited U.S. plastic surgery residency programs in March 2023. Publicly available information evaluated for each program included nonclinical microsurgery education, clinical microsurgical exposure, and the number of microsurgeon faculty. The perceived gender and race, professorship title, previous training, academic productivity, and scope of practice were determined for each individual faculty member.

Results

While approximately one-half of programs had evidence of microsurgical skill labs with anastomosis models (n = 56; 54%), fewer had a formal microsurgery curriculum (n = 36; 35%), or benchmark examinations (n = 25; 24%). Significantly more home institutions provided clinical exposure to breast, trauma or cancer, head and neck, and hand-related microsurgery than gender (p < 0.001) and lymphedema microsurgery (p < 0.001). Of the 724 faculty microsurgeons, most were male (n = 543), Caucasian (n = 488), and assistant professors (n = 316). Faculty underrepresented in plastic surgery were most often assistant professors with significantly fewer years of experience than their male (p < 0.001) and Caucasian counterparts (p < 0.023).

Conclusion

Great variability exists in clinical and nonclinical microsurgery training among U.S. plastic surgery residency programs. As the demand for microsurgery continues to rise, we can expect microsurgery education to become more uniform. Most microsurgeon faculty underrepresented in plastic surgery were earlier in their career, suggesting a potential shift in diversity as these individuals ascend the academic ladder.

Keywords

microsurgery - surgical education - residency - plastic surgery


Publication History

Received: 28 August 2024

Accepted: 19 February 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
11 March 2025

Article published online:
09 April 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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