Interprogram Differences in Core General, Core Plastic, and Plastic Surgery-Adjacent Training.

Abstract

Background: Plastic surgery training continues to evolve with integrated residents spending more time in plastic versus general surgery. Herein, we provide an updated description of interprogram differences in core general, core plastic, and plastic surgery-adjacent training curricula.

Methods: We obtained rotation schedules from US plastic surgery residency websites or program coordinators for AY2021-2022. Rotation months were recorded and categorized into Core General Surgery, Core Plastic Surgery, and Plastic Surgery-Adjacent. Rotations were compared to American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) standards. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (SPSS, IBM Corp., v27.0, Armonk, NY).

Results: Of 84 programs, we obtained schedules for 63 (75%). Most offered 2 years of Core General Surgery followed by 4 years of Core Plastic Surgery training (n = 32, 50.8%). From postgraduate years 1-6, programs offered median 52 months [interquartile range (IQR): 47.5, 55] of Core Plastic Surgery, 12 months (IQR: 9, 14) of Core General Surgery, and 8 months (IQR: 6, 10) of Plastic Surgery-Adjacent rotations. Six (9.5%) programs' schedules included rotations specifically addressing all ABPS competency requirements; 1 (1.6%) included rotations addressing all ACGME Core General Surgery competency requirements. Departmental status was not associated with differences in training time.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that in AY2021-2022, integrated plastic surgery training programs offered 6 months less Core General Surgery, 3 months less Plastic Surgery-Adjacent, and 9 months more Core Plastic Surgery Rotations than in 2012. Very few program schedules include named rotations that specifically addressed all ABPS or ACGME competency requirements.