• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2006

Twelve cases in eleven patients with segmental bone defects were treated with contralateral fibula free flap and ipsilateral island fibula flap in an antegrade, retrograde or bidirectional flow fashion. Five cases were managed with free flaps and seven were with ipsilateral fibula island transfer. Among seven cases, antegrade fashion was three, retrograde was three, and bidirectional was one. All patients were related with open tibial fractures and its sequelae except one who had open foot bone fracture. According to Gustilo's classification, ten patients were type IIIb and one was type IIIc. Basically, antegrade-flow flaps based on the peroneal vessels as in the conventional free flap were used for the proximal or middle one-third tibial defects. On the contrary, retrograde-flow flaps based on the communicating branch between the peroneal and posterior tibial vessels were used for the middle or distal one-third of the tibia. Bidirection-flow flap based on intact peroneal vessels were used for the middle portion of the tibia. The patients who have undergone ipsilateral fibula island flap had one of the following problems: a previously failed free flap, below-knee amputation of the opposite leg because of open tibial fracture, refusal to use the contralateral sound leg, or poor general condition to stand a lengthy operation. Six of the patients who have got ipsilateral fibula island flap also had an associated fibula fracture on the same leg, which was ultimately used as one of the osteotomy sites. The follow-up period was from 1 to 10 years. Two cases of free flap were failed: one patient had below-knee amputation and the other patient had ipsilateral fibula transfer. Other cases were successful and excellent hypertophy of the transferred fibula was achieved. Time to bone union ranged from 4 to 11 months. Time to full weight bearing was from 5 to 13 months after surgery. All of the transferred fibulas showed hypertrophy after weight bearing. In one case, stress fracture was developed during ambulation, which was healed conservatively. Nonunion occurred in two cases, which were treated with a long leg cast and cancellous bone graft, respectively. Length discrepancy of the legs was noted. The limb was shorter by an average 0.5 cm in three cases, longer by 1.1 cm in one case. In the case of island fibula transfer, limited arc of rotation was not a problem. Other disabling complications were not seen. We believe that these diverse modalities using a vascularized fibula will make us more comfortable to handle major bone defects.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

Lunate revascularization with the vascularized bone grafts is a current concept in the treatment of Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck disease. The aim of this study is to present our experience and preliminary results of the treatment using the fourth extensor compartment artery (4 ECA) vascularized bone graft for Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck disease. Between May 2009 and June 2010, five patients (3 men and 2 women) with Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck disease were treated with 4 ECA vascularized bone grafts. The mean age was 32.8 years and mean follow-up time was 13 months. The patients were composed of two patients in stage II and three patients in stage IIIa according to Lichtman's classification. Modified Mayo wrist score including pain, grip strength, range of motion and functional status and radiographic parameters such as carpal height ratio and radioscaphoid angle were evaluated at a final follow-up. Pain was markedly diminished and modified Mayo wrist score was 82 at last follow up period. There were no or little changes in carpal height ratio and radioscaphoid angle. All patients showed satisfactory bony union and no further lunate collapse on follow-up radiographs. The 4 ECA vascularized bone graft is a reliable alternative procedures among revascularization procedures for treatment of Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck's disease. It is less invasive and has low risk of kinking of pedicle compared to the 4+5 ECA vascularized bone graft. However, long term follow-up and MRI evaluation at follow up period should be needed for the future.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2011

Purpose: Canalicular laceration is relatively common due to its exposed, vulnerable location in case of facial trauma. Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy has been the standard treatment for canalicular obstruction secondary to unrepaired canalicular laceration. In spite of a high rate of relieving tear-duct obstruction, this method is noted to be associated with low rate of patient satisfaction and a number of complications. The goal of this study is to report the good results of delayed lacrimal stent implantation with Mini Monoka$^{(R)}$ for patients whose canaliculi were not repaired by initial surgery. Methods: From May of 2005 to February of 2007, four patients who underwent delayed lacrimal stent implantation using Mini Monoka$^{(R)}$ in canalicular laceration were retrospectively reviewed. First, the previous scar incision was made over the lower lid and we identified the cut end of proximal lacerated canaliculus. The Mini Monoka$^{(R)}$ was passed through the punctum to the cut end of the proximal lacerated canaliculus. We identified the cut end of the distal lacerated canaliculus, whose cut end has rolled white edges after careful excision of the scarred lid tissue. We then passed Mini Monoka$^{(R)}$ through the lacerated inferior canaliculus. Using an operating microscope, we placed three interrupted sutures of 8-0 Ethilon to join the canalicular ends. Silicone stent was left in place for 6 months. The mean age of the patients was 48.5 years (range, 35 to 59 years). The time interval from initial trauma to delayed lacrimal stent implantation was between 3 and 31 days. Follow-up periods ranged from 12 and 20 months. Results: The results of reconstruction were classified into normal, fair and poor. Patent lacrimal drainage systems were achieved in three of the four cases. In one case, epiphora was encountered. No cases of stent displacement, conjunctivitis or granuloma formation were encountered. Conclusion: Even though canalicular reconstruction was delayed for a long time, attempting canalicular reconstruction would be acceptable before considering secondary operations like dacryocystorhinostomy and conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2011

Purpose: In the process of replantation of the amputated fingertips, the primary concern was given to survival of the amputees, while the functional aspect of digits after the surgery has been easily neglected. Although an internal fixation with a K-wire is often a part of replantation of the amputated fingertips, little consideration had been given to the study of relationship between distal interphalangeal joint fixation and post operative range of motion. A comparative study in relation to post operative range of motion was done on two different groups, one group with K-wire insertion and the other group without a K-wire insertion at the distal interphalangeal joint. Materials and Methods: The study was done on the cases of a single digit amputation conducted at our institute (the age in the range of 10 to 60) in about four-year of time span from March of 2005 to March of 2009. The cases with a thumb replantation, osteomyelitis or articular surface injury have been excluded from this study. The cases of both head and shaft fracture, except the insertion site of tendon, of distal phalanx of internal fixation with a single K-wire were reviewed for this study. A group of 24 cases without distal interphalangeal joint fixation in comparison to a group of 22 cases with distal interphalangeal joint fixation was reviewed to assess the postoperative range of motion at distal interphalangeal joint on the 6th week after the surgery. And, on the 30th month after the surgery, a group of 10 cases without distal interphalangeal joint fixation in comparison to a group of 10 cases with joint fixation was reviewed. A K-wire was removed in about 5 weeks after the fracture was reunited under the radiographic image, immediately followed by a physical therapy. Result: The active range of motion for a group without interphalangeal joint fixation was measured $49.0^{\circ}$ on average, while $28.6^{\circ}$ was measured for a group with interphalengeal fixation on the 6th week after the surgery. On the 30th month after the surgery, the active range of motion was measured $52.0^{\circ}$ and $55.0^{\circ}$ on average for a group without and with interphalangeal fixation respectively. Conclusion: In the process of replantation of the amputated fingertips, short-term(on the 6th week) improvement of postoperative active motion of range can be expected in the cases without distal interphalangeal fixation in comparison to the cases of interphalangeal joint fixation with a K-wire. However, there seems to be no difference on motion of range in a long-term (on the 30th month) follow up period.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2005

Background and Objectives : Voice disorders can cause problems in patients with benign vocal cord lesions emotionally, physically, economically and functionally. Neither subjective nor objective voice examinations can evaluate such factors adequately. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) subjectively evaluates voice disorders in terms of physical, functional, emotional factors and measures the patient's perception of the impact of voice disorder. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of VHI in the patients with benign vocal cord lesions. Materials and Method : The authors evaluated 37 patients who experienced laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord lesions from september 2003 to August 2004. The VHI was used to measure the postoperative changes of the patient's perception and acoustic analysis and aerodynamic tests were also done. Statistical analysis was done using paired t-test and Pearson's correlation. Results : The VHI scores showed statistically significant reductions postoperatively. In acoustic analysis, jitter and shimmer had statistically significant reductions after surgery but noise-to-harmonics ratio did not. A statistically significant change in the average MFR and MPT perioperatively was found. The relationship between VHI and acoustic, aerodynamic analysis attained statistical significance. Conclusion : The VHI is a useful assessment tool to monitor the patient's self-perception of voice change after the surgery of benign vocal cord lesions. The VHI measurement, when combined with acoustic and aerodynamic analyses, will be helpful in comparing functional outcomes after voice surgery.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2010

Purpose : To examine the imaging findings of mucinous breast carcinoma and to evaluate the difference in these findings based on the histopathologic grade. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the imaging features according to BI-RADS in 29 patients with surgically proven mucinous carcinoma. The histopathologic grade was classified as well-differentiated, moderately-differentiated and poorly-differentiated. Based on these criteria, the differences in imaging findings were statistically analyzed. Results : Mammography was available in 20 cases, which contained 17 mass lesions (85%) and 3 cases of normal findings. On ultrasonography (27 cases), mucinous carcinoma was observed as a mass with an oval shape (59.3%), a microlobulated margin (55.6%) or an inhomogeneous isoechogenicity (74.1%). On MRI (21 cases), mucinous carcinoma was commonly observed to have a lobular shape (76%), smooth margin (86%) or heterogeneous contrast-enhancement (61.9%). On the kinetic curve, there was a delayed wash-out pattern (52.3%). There were no significant differences in the imaging findings for each histopathologic grade except that a welldifferentiated tumor had an abrupt interface. Conclusion : A well-differentiated mucinous carcinoma tended to have an abrupt interface on ultrasonography, as compared with the moderately-differentiated one. Mucinous carcinoma showed a heterogeneous enhancement and a delayed washout kinetic curve pattern on dynamic MRI.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2006

We successfully isolated human anagen hair follicles from human scalp skin by microdissection and tried to culture them under various conditions. First we confirmed negative effect of serum on human hair follicle organ culture. As a next step serum-free medium compositions, Philpott medium, IMDM, and DHGM (Dongguk hair growth medium) were tried. Philpott medium is a general medium for hair organ culture based on Williams' E medium and DHGM is a special self-developed medium containing high amino acids and vitamins (B group) composition. As results, hair follicle in Philpott medium and IMDM showed anagen phase morphological structure, but rapid loss of hair elongation, low alkaline phosphatase expression, and very low expression of CK19. It is thought these hair follicles rapidly regressed from apoptosis. However, hair follicles in DHGM showed long term anagen phase morphological structure, continuous hair elongation, high alkaline phosphatase, and CK19 expression. These results demonstrate that high amino acids and vitamins (B group) composition are essential to in vitro long term human hair follicle organ culture and this culture medium will be useful in basic study of hair biology or application study to the development of alopecia treatment drugs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.451-458
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• 2002

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease caused by low bone mass and the decrease of bone density in the microstructure of trabecular bone. Drug therapy(PTH Parathyroid hormone) may increase the trabecular thickness and thus bone strength. Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgery foy the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. This Procedure includes Puncturing vertebrae and filling with Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA). Although altering recommended monomer-to-Powder ratio affects material properties of bone cement, clinicians commonly alter the mixture ratio to decrease viscosity and increase the working time. The Purposes of this study were to analyze the effect of 4he monomer-to-powder ratio on the mechanical characteristics of trabecular. In this paper, the finite element model of human vertebral trabecualr bone was developed by modified Voronoi diagram, to analyze the relative effect of hormone therapy and vertebroplasty at the treatment of osteoporotic vertebrae. Trabeuclar bone models for vertebroplasty with varied monomer-to-Powder ratio(0.40∼1.07 ㎖/g) were analyzed. Effective modulus and strength of bone cement-treated models were approximately 60% of those of intact models and these are almost twice the values of hormone-treated models. The bone cement models with the ratio of 0.53㎖/g have the maximum modulus and strength. For the ratio of 1.07㎖/g, the modulus and strength were minimum(42% and 49% respectively) but these were greater than those for drug therapy. This study shows that bone cement treatment is more effective than drug therapy. It is found that in vertebroplasty, using a monomer-to-powder ratio different from that recommended by manufacturer nay significantly not only reduce the cement's material Properties but also deteriorate the mechanical characteristics of osteoporotic vertebrae.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Purpose : Plantar surfaces, calcaneal area, and region of Achilles insertion, which are extremely related with weight-bearing area and shoes application, must be reconstructed with glabrous and strong fibrous skin. Numerous methods of reconstructing defects of these regions have been advocated, but the transfer of similar local tissue as a cutaneous flap with preservation of sensory potential would best serve the functional needs of the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing surfaces of this region. Therefore it is recommended to use the limited skin of medial surface of foot that is similar to plantar region and non-weight-bearing area. In this paper we performed the medial plantar flap transfered as a fasciocutaneous island as one alterative for moderate-sized defects of the plantar forefoot, plantar heel, and area around the ankle in 25 cases and report the result, availability and problem of medial plantar flap. Materials and methods : We performed proximally based medial plantar flap in 22 cases and reverse flow island flap in 3 cases. Average age was $36.5(4{\sim}70)$ years and female was 3 cases. The causes of soft tissue defect were crushing injury on foot 4 cases, small bony exposure at lower leg 1 case, posterior heel defect with exposure of calcaneus 8 cases, severe sore at heel 2 cases, skin necrosis after trauma on posterior foot 4 cases, and defect on insertion area of Achilles tendon 6cases. Average follow up duration was 1.8(7 months-9.5 years) years. Results: Medial plantar flaps was successful in 22 patients. 18 patients preserved cutaneous branches of medial plantar nerve had sensation on transfered flap but diminished sensation or dysesthesia. At the follow up, we found there were no skin ulceration, recurrence of defect or skin breakdown in all 18 patients. But there was one case which occurred skin ulceration postoperatively among another 4 cases not contained medial plantar nerve. At the last follow up, all patients complained diminished sensation and paresthesia at medial plantar area distally to donor site, expecially with 4 patients having severe pain and discomfort during long-time walking. Conclusion : Medial plantar island flap based on medial plantar neurovascualr pedicle have low failure rate with strong fibrous skin and preserve sensibility of flap, so that it is useful method to reconstruct the skin and soft tissue defect of foot. But it should be emphasized that there are some complications such like pain and paresthesia by neuropraxia or injury of medial plantar nerve at more distal area than donor site. We may consider that medial plantar flap have limited flap size and small arc of rotation, and require skin graft closure of the donor defect and must chose this flap deliberately.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2004

This study was designed to investigate the optimal period of pedicles implantation in the prefabricated periosteofascial flap with a vascular tissue transfer. The flap prefabrication was prepared with a transposition of left occipital pedicles on the calvarial fascia of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty flaps were divided into five groups of six flaps, including control group (group I) of the conventional periosteofascial flap based on the lateral border of the rat calvarium. The prefabricated flap was elevated as an $1{\times}1cm$ sized island flap based on the implanted pedicle at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after the pedicles transfer in groups II, III, IV, and V, respectively. After the completion of creating a critical-sized calvarial defect and implanting with hydroxyapatite granules, the flap was sutured back for covering the defect and kept isolated from surrounding tissues. Six weeks after flap repositioning, the osseous changes of the defect were examined with simple radiographic findings, radiodensitometric analysis, and histological studies. By simple radiographic findings, specimens of the control, groups IV and V showed homogeneous radioopacity within the defect. But in groups II and III, focal radiolucency was observed in the defect. In the radiodensitometric analysis, the control group and the group V showed significant increased radiodensites statistically. Histologically, the implanted hydroxyapatite was absorbed partly in the defect in groups II, III, and IV. In the defects of the control group and the group V, the implanted hydroxyapatite was kept in its volume and the deposition of the bone cells was observed sparsely. In conclusion, the prefabricated periosteofascial flap can be created with a vascular tissue transfer and the pedicles should be implanted at least for 4 weeks to bring out positive osseous changes in the calvarial defect.