Impact of Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery Experience in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Programs

Ashley Manlove; Christopher Edwards; Thomas M Austin; Leonard B Kaban; Shelly Abramowicz

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2024.10.012

Impact of Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery Experience in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Programs

J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024 Oct 29:S0278-2391(24)00908-X. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2024.10.012. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ashley Manlove¹, Christopher Edwards², Thomas M Austin³, Leonard B Kaban⁴, Shelly Abramowicz⁵

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. Electronic address: Ashley.manlove@gmail.com.
² Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Florida School of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.
³ Professor of Anesthesiology, Associate Chief of Pediatric Anesthesia, University of Florida School of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.
⁴ WC Guralnick Distinguished Professor and Chief Emeritus, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA.
⁵ Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pediatrics, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.

PMID: 39549727
DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2024.10.012

Abstract

Background: The impact of cleft and craniomaxillofacial surgeons (CCMFSs) on oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) resident training is not well known.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the association between resident exposure to OMS faculty with CCMFS training, clinical experience, and scholarly activity.

Study design, setting, sample: An anonymous survey of OMS residency directors in the United States, distributed electronically by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, was used to conduct a cross-sectional study. Survey consisted of 3 following sections: 1) CCMFS faculty and program-related information, 2) CCMFS curriculum in residency programs, and 3) academic productivity related to CCMFS.

Predictor variable: Primary predictor variable was CCMFS exposure: presence or absence of an OMS faculty with CCMFS fellowship or equivalent.

Main outcome variable: Primary outcome variables were: 1) number of CCMFS cases with OMS resident involvement, 2) number of OMS residents who pursued CCMF surgery fellowship, and 3) CCMFS-related academic productivity of faculty and residents by abstract or publication.

Covariates: Covariates include clinical experience of OMS residents in CCMFS cases and CCMFS-related academic productivity.

Analyses: Descriptive statistics and continuous/ordinal variables were summarized. Fisher exact and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were completed. 2-sided P values of <.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: There were 81 completed surveys (91% response rate; excluded military programs). Almost half of OMS training programs have at least one attending surgeon who completed a CCMF surgery fellowship (n = 36/81, 44.4%). OMS departments with a CCMFS-trained faculty performed more operations on patients with congenital craniofacial differences (P value <.001) and were more likely to publish at least one manuscript related to CCMF surgery in the last 5 years (P value = .029).

Conclusion and relevance: Nearly half of OMS training programs have at least one attending surgeon who completed a CCMF surgery fellowship or equivalent. CCMF surgery faculty may increase opportunities for OMS resident involvement in caring for patients with congenital craniofacial differences. There is academic productivity in programs with CCMF surgeons. This should improve as the cohort of CCMF trained oral and maxillofacial surgeons increases.