Successful applicants had a Step 1 score that was 1 SD greater than the U.S. mean. Having a plastic surgery residency program affiliated with an applicant's medical school was an important predictor of match success. Objective measures (step scores, Alpha Omega Alpha membership, and number of publications) were not predictive of match success.

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PURPOSE:Given the great variability in perioperative management of craniosynostosis, a large-scale national survey of current practice patterns was conducted. METHODS:Using scaphocephaly as a test diagnosis, 115 craniofacial surgeons at all levels of career experience across the United States were invited to participate in an anonymous survey. RESULTS: 53 surgeons (46%) completed the survey. All respondents complete repair before 1 year of age with a majority operating between 4-8 months. Surgeons with greater than 10 years of experience were significantly more likely to perform open repair at extremes of age (<4 months and 8-12 months) (p=0.03) and reported shorter operative times (p=0.01) compared to their less experienced colleagues. More than two-thirds of surgeons (68.8%) obtain preoperative imaging for every case; 83% of these prefer CT scans. Over a fourth of respondents (28%) routinely prescribe an extended course (>24 hours) of antibiotics. Overall transfusion rates remain high, with nearly two in three (65.2%) transfusing in 76-100% of operations. The overwhelming majority of respondents (93.6%) routinely send patients to an intensive care unit (ICU) postoperatively. CONCLUSION:We present the largest United States survey of craniosynostosis surgical practice patterns to date. General consensus exists regarding safety and emergency preparedness standards. Additionally we identified several patterns that deviate from published evidence-based guidelines. Specifically, these practices relate to the routine use of high-dose radiation imaging, long-term antibiotics, blood transfusions, and intensive postoperative surveillance. For the first time, stratifying by surgeon experience revealed significant differences in clinical practice. PURPOSE:Plastic Surgery has become an increasingly competitive field to match into due to the limited positions available. The goal of this study was to analyze which factors predicted a successful NRMP match during the 2013-2014 cycle. The results of this study provide a guide for future applicants and mentors. METHODS:An electronic questionnaire was distributed to successfully matched medical students in plastic surgery. RESULTS: Data was available from 127 matched students (93% response rate). On average, 60% of matched applicants held AOA membership. Average step 1 and step 2 scores were 247.93 [95% CI (244.3, 251.56)] and 253.46 [95% CI (248.56, 258.37)], respectively.Step 1 scores were not significantly greater among those who matched at their first choice (r2=0.04). AOA membership and number of research publications also did not affect the outcome of an applicant's rank list. 49% of current PGY-1 residents matched to their first choice and 77% matched to their third choice or better. 112 out of 127 PGY-1 residents had a plastic surgery residency program (independent or integrated) at their home institution (OR =2.2). CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrates current PGY-1 residents have an average USMLE step 1 score that is one standard deviation greater than the mean score. An im...