What is the role of hand surgery in plastic surgery? Analysis of hand surgery papers presented in Turkish national congresses of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery

Abstract

Context: Scientific studies are often presented primarily to a group of colleagues at annual scientific meetings. All year rounds are turned into products in congresses. Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the extent of the hand surgery in plastic surgery and plastic surgeons' papers related with hand surgery in national congresses; the past eight plastic surgery congresses were classified and presented. Settings and Design: The abstract books of Turkish National Congresses of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery between 2011 and 2018 have been evaluated retrospectively. Subjects and Methods: Distribution of hand surgery according to the topics was evaluated according to the European White Book rules and standards. Distribution of oral and posters and distribution by years were shown. Results: The ratio of hand surgery reports to all reports was 17.3%. Hand and upper extremity surgery topics were presented at 19.7% in the 38th congress, which is the most hand surgery-included congress. The most frequently presented subjects were tumors, flaps, trauma, congenital anomalies, and replantation. Conclusions: Although there are arguments that plastic surgeons have disregarded hand surgery, there is no similar situation for Turkish plastic surgeons in the national platform. It has been found that the most common topics such as tumor excision and repair of the tissue defect were the most presented issues rather than arthroscopy, paralytic hand, and arthritis, which are specific to the hand surgery. Increasing the number of plastic surgery specialists who have been trained with hand surgery as a subspecialty will bring up the subjects that have not been presented in the hand surgery so far, in the future congresses.