ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck study guide
ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck examination is a subspecialty certification assessment offered by the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery for otolaryngologists who have completed additional fellowship training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. It is intended to document focused expertise beyond general otolaryngology certification, and it is relevant to surgeons whose practices center on facial aesthetics, reconstructive surgery of the head and neck, craniofacial conditions, and facial trauma. The ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck study guide has 10 sections and about 2,485 words.
01Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Facial plastic reconstruction is organized around the aesthetic subunit principle and the reconstructive ladder . Candidates must know subunit boundaries of the nose, ear, lip, and eyelid, because a defect that crosses a subunit often needs the whole subunit replaced rather than a patch.
297 words, about 1 min02Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery
Head and neck reconstruction after ablative surgery is driven by defect anatomy and functional goals : oral competence, speech, swallowing, airway, and contour. Master the classification of mandibular and maxillary defects (e.g., segmental vs marginal mandibulectomy; maxillectomy classes), and match reconstruction to them-free fibula for segmental mandible, scapular/DCIA alternatives, obturator vs free flap for maxillectomy.
273 words, about 1 min03Congenital and Craniofacial Anomalies
Know the embryology and timing of facial development: branchial arches, fusion of facial prominences, and palatal shelf elevation. Cleft lip/palate classification (Veau), timing of repair (lip ~3–6 months, palate ~9–12 months), and the sequence of alveolar bone grafting (mixed dentition, ~6–9 years).
229 words, about 1 min04Cutaneous and Soft Tissue Lesions of the Head and Neck
Focus on diagnosis and margin strategy for cutaneous malignancy. Know basal cell carcinoma subtypes (nodular, morpheaform, basosquamous) and their behavior; squamous cell carcinoma risk factors (immunosuppression, radiation, chronic wounds) and high-risk features (depth, perineural invasion, poor differentiation, ear/lip location).
241 words, about 1 min05Aesthetic Surgery of the Face and Neck
Aesthetic facial surgery requires understanding facial aging in layers (skin, fat compartments, SMAS, bone) and the deep plane vs sub-SMAS vs skin-only rhytidectomy approaches. Know facial nerve danger zones and the SMAS/platysma continuity; neck rejuvenation often needs platysmaplasty.
255 words, about 1 min06Trauma and Reconstruction of Facial Fractures
Master facial buttress anatomy and the Le Fort classification, zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures, orbital floor/blowout, naso-orbitoethmoid (NOE) injuries, and mandibular fracture patterns. Understand occlusion as the guide in mandible and midface repair, and the role of maxillomandibular fixation versus rigid internal fixation.
227 words, about 1 min07Head and Neck Oncology and Ablative Surgery
Know staging and workup for mucosal head and neck SCC: TNM, nodal levels, and the role of imaging and panendoscopy. Understand neck dissection classifications (radical, modified, selective) and levels I–VI, plus sentinel node concepts for oral cavity.
244 words, about 1 min08Local, Regional, and Free Flap Reconstruction
Understand flap vascular anatomy : random vs axial, pedicled vs free, and the angiosome concept. Know local facial flaps and regional flaps (nasolabial, paramedian forehead, pectoralis major, submental, supraclavicular, deltopectoral).
246 words, about 1 min09Craniofacial and Skull Base Surgery
Know cranial vault anatomy, sutures, and growth , plus indications for cranial vault remodeling in syndromic craniosynostosis (raised ICP, exorbitism, airway). Understand anterior skull base anatomy : cribriform, fovea ethmoidalis, orbital roof, and the relationship to the frontal sinus and dura.
239 words, about 1 min10Perioperative Care, Complications, and Patient Safety
Understand risk stratification and perioperative optimization : VTE prophylaxis, glycemic control, nutrition, smoking cessation, and anticoagulation management. Know airway considerations in head and neck surgery (tracheostomy indications, difficult airway, postoperative edema) and free flap physiology (avoid vasopressors when possible, maintain perfusion, temperature, and hematocrit).
234 words, about 1 min