Validating Grading of Aesthetic Outcomes of Web-Space Reconstruction for Finger Syndactyly: Crowd-Sourcing Public Perceptions Using Amazon Mechanical Turk

Why this matters

This study validates the assessment of aesthetic outcomes in web-space reconstruction for finger syndactyly using the Yuan Grading Scale and crowdsourced public perceptions. This work contributes to evidence-based plastic and reconstructive surgery — helping clinicians interpret outcomes, refine technique, and counsel patients with clearer data.

Author

Dr. Orr Shauly

Plastic and reconstructive surgery resident at Emory University (UCLA BS, USC MD) with an h-index of 21 and peer-reviewed work spanning aesthetic surgery, reconstruction, medical devices, and AI in medicine.

Abstract

This study validates the assessment of aesthetic outcomes in web-space reconstruction for finger syndactyly using the Yuan Grading Scale and crowdsourced public perceptions. A survey was conducted with internet volunteers to evaluate the aesthetic appearance of dorsal flaps using a visual analog scale (VAS) and categorical grading. Results showed a strong correlation between higher VAS scores and higher categorical grades, with excellent dorsal flaps receiving significantly higher scores. This validation supports the Yuan Grading Scale as a reliable tool for evaluating aesthetic outcomes, helping guide future practices to align with patient preferences.