Background/Objectives: Robotic systems offer enhanced precision, dexterity, and visualization, which are essential in addressing the complex nature of plastic surgery procedures. Despite widespread adoption in other surgical specialties, such as urology and gynecology, their application in plastic surgery remains underexplored. This review examines the use of robotic systems in plastic and reconstructive surgery with a focus on clinical outcomes. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. Search terms included (“robotic surgery” OR “surgical robots”) AND (“plastic surgery” OR “reconstructive surgery”). Studies on clinical outcomes and biomimetic innovations published between 1980 and 2024 were included, while non-English, cadaver-based, and animal studies were excluded. Data were systematically extracted using Covidence and analyzed. Results: Twenty-nine studies were identified that evaluated the clinical outcomes of robotics in areas including breast reconstruction, microsurgery, and craniofacial procedures. Robotic systems like the Da Vinci and Symani platforms offer motion scaling, tremor elimination, and enhanced depth perception. In nipple-sparing mastectomies, they reduced skin necrosis rates from 8% to 2%, while in DIEP flap reconstruction, they enabled smaller fascial incisions (2.67 ± 1.13 cm vs. 8.14 ± 1.69 cm) and faster recovery with fewer complications. In microsurgery, they achieved 100% patency for vessels under 0.3 mm and a 25.2% limb volume reduction in lymphedema patients in 3 months. Conclusions: Robotic systems show significant promise, particularly in procedures such as nipple-sparing mastectomies, and have the potential to overcome challenges including surgeon fatigue. However, challenges such as longer operating times, high costs, and limited haptic feedback remain barriers to their adoption.

Background/Objectives: Open fasciectomy is the standard treatment for Dupuytren’s disease, but recent Australian outcome data are scarce. This study assessed outcomes and predictors of recurrence after open fasciectomy at a tertiary centre. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all open fasciectomy procedures for Dupuytren’s disease at Peninsula Health, Victoria (January 2023–October 2024). Data included contracture correction, functional scores (URAM, Southampton), recurrence at 6 and 12 months, complications, and demographic predictors. Appropriate statistical tests were used (significance: p < 0.05). Results: Among 152 procedures (mean age 63.8; 70.2% male), contracture correction was significant for all joints. URAM and Southampton scores improved by 15.3 and 7.6 points (p < 0.001). Complications (22.4%) were mainly transient neuropraxia. Recurrence was 10.5% at six months and 13.8% at twelve months. Smoking and female sex increased recurrence risk. Conclusions: Open fasciectomy provides effective correction, functional gain, and low early recurrence rates. Smoking and female sex predict recurrence, supporting tailored counselling and reaffirming open fasciectomy as the standard for advanced Dupuytren’s disease.

Background: Thoracic air complications after autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) are uncommon and incompletely characterised. A personalised perioperative approach requires integration of patient anatomy, reconstructive technique, anaesthetic exposures and the postoperative clinical trajectory rather than reliance on population-level estimates alone. Methods: We report a 41-year-old woman in whom pneumomediastinum was identified after bilateral DIEP flap reconstruction and performed a focused literature review restricted to primary studies of pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum following autologous flap breast reconstruction. Searches across MEDLINE-Ovid, PubMed and Wiley Online Library using predefined MeSH terms were conducted. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, incidence, mechanism of injury, perioperative factors, and management. Results: The patient developed postoperative hypotension and persistent tachycardia, followed by pleuritic chest pain. CT excluded pulmonary embolism and oesophageal perforation but demonstrated Moderate volume pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax. She was managed conservatively and discharged on postoperative day 7. Five primary studies met the eligibility criteria. Study-specific pneumothorax frequencies were 1/463 (0.22%) after rib-sparing free-flap reconstruction, 3/749 (0.4%) after extended latissimus dorsi reconstruction, and 4/180 patients (2.2%; 1.4 per 100 internal mammary vessel dissections). Reported mechanisms included pleural injury during internal mammary vessel dissection, inadvertent puncture during regional anaesthesia, barotrauma under positive-pressure ventilation, and drain-related barotrauma. No previous primary report of pneumomediastinum after autologous flap breast reconstruction was identified. Conclusions: Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are uncommon but potentially serious complications of ABR. They are rarely documented postoperatively; however, surgeons and anaesthetists must remain vigilant, particularly during exposure of the internal mammary vessels and airway management. Patient-specific assessment, symptom-directed imaging and multidisciplinary management may support early recognition to prevent morbidity and preserve the outcomes of reconstructive procedures.

Background: Fragmented healthcare systems require patients and informal carers to collect, organise, transfer, and interpret personal health information across providers. This review examined the burdens of this work, its management methods, and the evidence for digital tools intended to reduce it. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library were searched for English-language primary studies published from January 2000 to 25 June 2026. Eligible studies examined patient- or carer-led management of personal health information in community, outpatient, or longitudinal care. Two reviewers independently screened records. The findings were synthesised narratively because of study heterogeneity. Results: Eleven studies published between 2005 and 2021 were included: seven from the United States, two from Italy, and one from Canada and Israel each. Ten used qualitative methods and one used mixed methods. Patients and carers managed medications, appointments, test results, correspondence, medical histories, and insurance information using folders, binders, handwritten notes, calendars, spreadsheets, memory, and, less commonly, digital portals. Reported burdens included time, administrative effort, cognitive demand, emotional distress, and responsibility for maintaining continuity between services. Burdens were greatest when information demands increased while illness reduced a patient’s capacity to manage them. Paper-based systems remained common because they were visible, portable, and easy to annotate. No study directly tested whether a digital intervention reduced information management burden, and none were conducted in Australia. Conclusions: Personal health information management (PHIM) is substantial but largely unrecognised patient and carer work arising partly from fragmented information exchange. The available evidence identifies design considerations for information management, but it does not establish that digital interventions can reduce burden.