100+ Free ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck Practice Questions

Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck (PSHN) is an ABMS-recognized subspecialty certification co-sponsored by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). It replaced legacy facial plastic and craniofacial certificates with a unified subspecialty pathway. ABOHNS-issued PSHN certification is for otolaryngologist-facial plastic surgeons who completed ACGME-accredited Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery residency and ACGME-accredited Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship. ABPS-issued certification serves plastic surgeons via the ABPS pathway.

ABOHNS-issued PSHN candidates must (1) hold ABOHNS primary certification in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (or be eligible through current ABOHNS pathway), (2) successfully complete an ACGME-accredited Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (FPRS) fellowship, and (3) hold an active unrestricted US or Canadian medical license. Specific eligibility, fellowship transition periods (legacy vs ACGME pathway), and case-log requirements are published by ABOHNS during the application cycle and may vary by graduating year. Candidates should consult the ABOHNS website for current rules.

The exam covers the breadth of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery: facial anatomy and surgical planes (SMAS, facial nerve, scalp layers); rhinoplasty (functional and cosmetic, L-strut, spreader grafts, costal cartilage); facelift and blepharoplasty (deep-plane vs SMAS, hematoma, retrobulbar hematoma management, ectropion prevention); facial reconstruction (Mohs defects, paramedian forehead flap, bilobed flap, lip reconstruction); craniofacial trauma (Le Fort, NOE, orbital, mandibular fractures); cleft lip and palate (timing, Furlow, VPI surgery); microtia and aural atresia; facial paralysis and reanimation; head and neck oncologic reconstruction (free flaps, regional flaps); pediatric craniofacial syndromes; and scar/keloid/laser management.

The ABOHNS Written Qualifying Exam is the broad primary certification exam covering all eight practice areas of otolaryngology (otology, rhinology, laryngology, head & neck oncology, facial plastics, pediatric otolaryngology, sleep, foundations). The PSHN subspecialty exam is taken AFTER primary ABOHNS certification and AFTER ACGME-accredited FPRS fellowship — it tests advanced facial plastic and reconstructive surgical knowledge in depth, including aesthetic procedures, microvascular reconstruction, craniofacial trauma, and pediatric craniofacial conditions at fellowship-trained level.

High-yield topics include: rhinoplasty fundamentals (L-strut ≥10 mm, spreader grafts for internal nasal valve, columellar strut, tip support tripod, polly-beak deformity, costal cartilage with Gibson concentric carving); facelift complications (hematoma is #1, retrobulbar hematoma → emergent lateral canthotomy/cantholysis, marginal mandibular and frontal branch facial nerve injury); facial reconstruction (paramedian forehead flap on supratrochlear artery, Zitelli bilobed flap modification, Karapandzic and Abbe lip flaps, aesthetic subunit principle); craniofacial trauma (white-eyed pediatric trapdoor blowout urgent <48h, NOE Markowitz medial canthal tendon, frontal sinus algorithm); cleft (Veau, Furlow, VPI selection by closure pattern); facial paralysis (Bell palsy CPG steroids <72h, hypoglossal/masseteric transfer, gracilis free muscle); microtia (Jahrsdoerfer ≥7, Brent/Nagata at age 6-10); free flaps (fibula osteoseptocutaneous with CTA preop, ALT for glossectomy, radial forearm with modified Allen test, venous thrombosis #1 cause of failure).

Use a 12-month structured plan during fellowship and the year after. Master facial anatomy in surgical planes (SMAS, facial nerve branches, retaining ligaments). Build a clinical knowledge base through Papel/Larrabee 'Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,' Baker 'Local Flaps in Facial Reconstruction,' and the AAFPRS Self-Assessment Examination (SAE). Memorize the AAO-HNSF Bell palsy CPG, AJCC melanoma/SCC staging, NCCN cutaneous tumor margins, and Le Fort/NOE/Markowitz fracture classifications. Master cleft palate techniques (Furlow, von Langenbeck, Bardach) and VPI surgical selection by nasendoscopy. Take fellowship in-training exams seriously and complete board-style MCQs across all PSHN domains.

ABOHNS PSHN diplomates participate in ABOHNS Continuing Certification (Maintenance of Certification) which includes ongoing learning activities, periodic assessment, and professional standing requirements. Recertification cycle is typically every 10 years and is integrated with primary ABOHNS certification continuing certification. Specific PSHN MOC requirements are published by ABOHNS and may evolve as the new subspecialty pathway matures.

Official information is published on the ABOHNS website (abohns.org) under subspecialty certifications. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (abplasticsurgery.org) publishes parallel information for ABPS-issued PSHN certification. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS, aafprs.org) provides fellowship information, the SAE practice exam, and educational resources. ACGME publishes fellowship program requirements. Pearson VUE administers the computer-based exam.