An innovative photographic database for cutaneous facial defects.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To construct an easy-to-use server-based database that stores photographs of patients undergoing reconstructive surgery for cutaneous facial defects and organizes them in a manner best suited for rapid search and education. STUDY DESIGN An institutional review board-approved user-modifiable database was designed using OnBase software (Hyland Software Inc., Westlake, OH) to store both the photographs of patients undergoing reconstructive surgery and the pertinent clinical data. METHODS We designed a database using the OnBase software system (Hyland Software Inc.) to catalog patient data and photographs (pre-, intra-, and postoperative) and allow searches based on key data points. The database operates on three different frames: an upload frame, retrieval frame, and patient document frame. Data entry was based on patients undergoing facial reconstruction of Mohs defects, and upload is in the form of 25 keywords for which data values are entered via dropdown menus. Keyword entry describes defect description, flap nomenclature, flap design, outcomes, and complications. RESULTS The database allows easy and rapid searches of case examples based on a number of criteria. It allows the user to view multiple examples of different patients with a given defect as defined by location, depth, and size. CONCLUSION Server-based database systems such as OnBase (Hyland Software Inc.) provide platforms that can be used to create user-friendly photograph and data collection systems. Our database provides a way to educate medical students and surgeons-in-training, review personal outcomes, and exercise continued practice-based learning. Implementation of similar databases could potentially be utilized around the globe to facilitate education and self-assessment because OnBase (Hyland Software Inc.) and other similar software platforms are widely available within healthcare systems. Laryngoscope, 2016 Laryngoscope, 126:2451-2455, 2016.