The perception of plastic surgery by physiotherapists: a French national descriptive study

BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery is a transversal discipline that many people misunderstand, including general practitioners, medical students, paramedics and the public. Plastic surgeons often collaborate with physiotherapists for post-acute care and rehabilitation. They ensure optimal post-operative recovery of the patient. Herein, the authors assessed the medical knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery by physiotherapists working outside health centers and explored their attitudes towards classic reconstructive surgery scenarios. METHODS: To assess physiotherapists’ medical knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery, the authors conducted an online questionnaire survey. A total of 1,262 physiotherapists responded. RESULTS: The physiotherapists confirmed the suspected lack of knowledge regarding the plastic surgery field. Although they were generally aware that plastic surgeons perform cosmetic procedures and treat burns, they were largely unaware that plastic surgeons perform hand surgeries and microsurgical operations. More than 70% of them stated that they did not have the necessary knowledge to properly manage patients in this specialty. This lack of knowledge can sometimes have a negative impact on patients’ recovery, particularly for fear of making a mistake. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapists, outside the hospital, have an incomplete conception of plastic surgery. They would need a specific plastic surgery training in order to manage these patients in an optimal way.