• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2007

Purpose: To report the clinical results and efficacies of one stage reverse lateral supramalleolar adipofascial flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the foot and ankle joint. Material and Methods: We performed 5 cases of one stage reverse lateral supramalleolar adipofascial flap from Jan 2005 to Sept 2005. All patients were males and mean age was 50(36~59) years old. The causes of soft tissue defects were 1 diabetic foot, 2 crushing injuries of the foot, 1 open fracture of the calcaneus, and 1 chronic osteomyelitis of the medial cuneiform bone. Average size of the flap was 3.6(3~4)${\times}$4.6(4~6) cm. All flaps were harvested as adipofascial flap and were performed with the split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) above the flaps simultaneously. Results: All flap survived completely and good taking of STSG on the flap was achieved in all cases. There were no venous congestion and marginal necrosis of the flap. In diabetic foot case, wound was healed at 4 weeks after surgery due to wound infection. There was no contracture on the grafted sites. Ankle and toe motion were not restricted at last follow up. All patients did not have difficulty in wearing shoes. Conclusion: The reverse lateral supramalleolar adipofascial flap and STSG offers a valuable option for repair of exposure of the tendon and bone around the ankle and foot. Also one stage procedure with STSG can give more advantages than second stage with FTSG, such as good and fast take-up, early ambulation and physical therapy, and good functional result.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2007

The general treatment methods of chronic osteomyelitis of calcaneus with soft tissue defect was curettage of necrotic bone with antibiotics mixed bone cement insertion or cancellous bone grafting, and free or pedicled flap coverage. The muscle flap for soft tissue defect has many advantages including control of infection, but in cases of pedicled flap in calcaneus, there are some limitations because of functional loss of the donor site, limitation of pedicled length of donor muscle In these reason, free muscle flap was more preferred for pedicled muscle flap. But, in case of small sized defect which was located in center or lateral side of calcaneus, the abductor digiti minimi muscle flap can be one of the solutions. The abductor digiti minimi muscle flap has minimal functional loss of donor site and can be performed easily. There are some reports of the abductor digiti minimi muscle flap in other country, but in korea, this report is the first case report of the abductor digiti minimi muscle flap. We performed one case of abductor digiti minimi muscle flap as a treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of calcaneus and could obtain a good result.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2007

This study was designed to introduce free toe tissue transfer using infiltration method of local anesthetic agent. Four toe pulp tissues were transferred to reconstruct finger tip defect in four patients who were not suitable for general anesthesia. Two flaps taken from the lateral side of the great toe was used for reconstruction of thumb defect and two flaps from the medial side of the second toe for resurfacing of the index and fifth finger. Flap sizes were various from $2.0{\times}2.0\;cm^2$ to $1.6{\times}4.0\;cm^2$. Anesthesia was induced by infiltration of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride (with 1:100,000 epinephrine) with dilution of normal saline in same volume unit, as like as in ordinary digital block. All vessels were anastomosed within 2 cm of distance from the proximal margin of the defect. Whole operative procedures were carried out by one team. All flaps were successfully taken without complication. The average operation time was 4 hours 10 minutes. The amount of anesthetic agent used in whole operative procedures was roughly 4 mL in the toe, 8 mL in the finger, and 12 mL totally. In conclusion, free toe tissue transfer using infiltration method of local anesthetic agent would be good strategy for finger tip reconstruction in the patient not suitable for general anesthesia.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2008

Purpose: Because of good blood supply of the pedicled perforator flap and its advantage of not requiring vessel anastomosis compared to pedicled flap, it is widely used recently. The authors intended to report the results of various pedicled perforator flaps which have been performed to reconstruct the soft tissue defects and the utility of the flap. Methods: The study was conducted for 12 cases of pedicled perforator flap which were performed at the plastic surgery department of the current hospital from the period of June, 2005 to August, 2008. Four patients were male and eight patients were female and their age was ranged from 22 to 74 years old with mean age of 42.6 years old. The sites were 1 case on face, 3 cases on chest, 3 cases on back, 4 cases on coccyx, and 1 case on foot. Results: The defect sites of all patients were successfully reconstructed by using the pedicled perforator flap. Although most of the flaps revealed congestion at the early stage after the surgery, they were recuperated within few days. One case of skin flap was reported to be partially necrotized in old age woman who has no reliable perforator. Other than that, all defects were covered successfully and acceptable aethetically. Conclusion: As stated in above, the pedicled perforator flap has many useful advantages than the conventional pedicled flap and various free flap. Unless free flap must be required, the use of pedicled perforator flap is recommended by first choice for soft tissue coverage.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2013

Purpose: Soft tissue defect of the hand, which cannot be covered with skin graft or local flap, is usually reconstructed using a free flap. Temporoparietal fascial free flap is one of the best alternatives for functional reconstruction of the hand with exposed tendons, bones, and joints. Materials and Methods: We have experienced four cases of reconstruction using a temporoparietal fascial flap with a skin graft and followed up for 20 years. We conducted a retrospective review of the patients' clinical charts and photos. Results: At the time of initial injury, the average age of patients was 50.3 (39~62) years. The radial artery was used for reconstruction of the dorsal side of the hand, whereas the ulnar artery was used for that of the volar side of the wrist. Short term complication such as skin graft loss and donor site alopecia occurred. However, during the long term follow-up period, no change of flap volume was noted, and full range of motion in the adjacent joint was maintained. In addition, hyperpigmentation of the grafted skin on the flap disappeared gradually. Conclusion: Selection of the optimal flap is important for reconstruction of the hand without functional limitation. We obtained satisfactory soft tissue coverage and functional outcomes using a temporoparietal fascial free flap and followed up for 20 years.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2013

Purpose: For reconstruction of lower extremity defects, various flaps can be used and the appropriate flap must be selected and applied according to the size of the defect. In particular, in cases where the defect size is small to moderate, thinner or smaller volume flaps are useful. The authors performed reconstruction of small to moderate defects on the lower extremities using superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator free flaps and are reporting the results. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients underwent reconstruction of defects on lower extremity areas using superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator free flaps from July 2011 to July 2012 at this hospital. The flaps were elevated from above the deep fat layer, and, in all cases, the vessel diameter of the flaps was less than 1mm, with the exception of superficial vein that accompanied it. Results: The mean follow up period was 4.46 months, and, despite a partial loss in the flap in two cases, there were no total losses. All donor sites were closed with primary closure, and there was no occurrence of complications, such as hematomas, seromas, or lymphorrheas. The patients were highly satisfied with the donor site scar since it could be masked by underwear. Conclusion: Compared to other flaps, superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator free flaps are thinner in thickness and smaller in volume, which results in a more natural contour of the recipient site after the operation. In addition, since the flap can be elevated from supra-deep fat layer, the operation time can be shortened, and lymphorrhea can be prevented, which in turn lessens donor-site morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 1998

Microsurgical free-tissue transfer has allowed surgeons to salvage injured limbs but choosing appropriate healthy recipient vessels has proved to be a difficult problem. Retrograde flow flaps are established in island flaps. Retrograde flow anastomosis could prevent the possible kinking and twisting of the arterial anastomosis. By not interrupting the proximal blood flow to the fracture or soft tissue defect site, the compromise of fracture or wound healing might be prevented. We wished to estabilish an animal model in rat for a retrograde arterial flow based free flap. Nembutal-anesthetized male rats; weighing 250 to 300 gm, were used. The femoral artery and common carotid artery were exposed and divided. The systemic and retrograde arterial pressure were quantified by utilizing a parallel tubing system connected with peripheral arterial line. In this study, the retrograde flow was not pulsatile and the retrograde arterial pressure was 64-65mmHg, with a mean arterial pressure of 106-109mmHg. An epigastiic skin flap, measuring $3{\times}3cm$, was raised with its vascular pedicle. The epigastric free flap was transfered in the same rat from femoral vessels to carotid vessels in end to end fashion. We anastomosed the donor arteries to the distal parts of the divided recipient arteries and the donor veins to the proximal parts of the recipient veins. Twelve experiments were performed and the transplantations succeeded in 75 percent of them. In the remaining 25 percent, the experiments failed due to thrombosis at the site of anastpmosis, or other causes. This animal model represents an excellent example of retrograde arterial flow free flap transfer that is reliable.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.68-72
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• 1998

With the advent of microvascular free-tissue transfer, this single stage resurfacing method for large scar and soft tissue defects around the wrist in the patients of electrical burn has distinctive advantage over the conventional multistage pedicle-flap transfer. Between 1992 and 1996, we treated 9 cases of 8 patients who had large scar around the wrist due to old electrical burn with free flaps as a preparation of staged tendon graft. Mean age was 30.3 years and average scar area was $6{\times}11cm$. The length of time the injury and free flaps was 9 months on an average. Prior to the free flap, we performed the angiography to all patients in order to evaluate the circulation of the forearm and hand and to choose the recipient vessel. In all cases, proximal ulnar arteries in the forearm remained intact and all radial arteries remained intact in 8 of 9 cases on angiogram. The interosseous arteries were well visualized in all cases. We used the ulnar arteries as a recipient artery. The types of flaps used were f scapular cutaneous flaps, 2 dorsalis pedis flaps and a radial forearm flap. Flap survial was 100 percents with satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. Free flaps using ulnar artery as a recipient artery is one of the useful reconstruction methods for the resurfacing of large scar around the wrist in the patients of old electrical burn.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

Perforator flaps have become increasingly popular in microsurgery nowadays and are being used widely for many cases of reconstruction after trauma and cancer ablation. And thoracodorsal perforator based free flap is one of them having the merits of carrying a large skin paddle with leaving intact innervation and function of the remaining latissimus dorsi muscle. We made a homogeneous thin flap excluding the main muscle with a long vascular pedicle and tried to decrease the donor site morbidity. But, it needs a long learning-curve and we have met marginal flap necrosis frequently. Besides, prolonged operation time for complete perforator dissection may be a tedious job to the microsurgeon. To overcome these disadvantages, we usually included very small portion of the latissimus dorsi muscle during this flap elevation around the pedicled 2-3 thoracodorsal perforators during this flap elevation. We performed 3 cases of thoracodorsal perforator based free flap at Hallym university sacred heart hospital between May and August 2005 for the soft tissue defect of the scalp and feet. The average flap size was $8{\times}14\;cm$. Although it is not a true perforator flap, we can get the reliability for the flap survival with much better blood circulation and save the time of one or two hours to dissect the perforators completely. All cutaneous flaps survived completely without any complication except one fatty female who had the very small superficial fat necrosis due to flap bulkiness. We believe the thoracodorsal perforator based free flap can be extended its versatility and reliability by including the very small portion of the muscle around the perforators.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2006

Radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has been established itself as a versatile and widely used method for reconstruction of the head and neck, although it is still criticized for high mortality of donor site. Delayed wound healing, cosmetic deformity, vascular compromise and potentially reduced wrist function have many plastic surgeons hesitate to adapt it as a first choice in micro-reconstruction. To overcome these drawbacks, some techniques for donor-site repair such as V-Y advancement with full thickness skin graft (FTSG), application of artificial dermis ($Terudermis^{(R)}$) or acellular dermal matrix ($AlloDerm^{(R)}$), and double-opposing rhomboid transposition flap have been reported. Authors performed 4 cases of RFFF in old-aged patients of the head and neck cancer from April 2005 to February 2006. We compared the outcomes of donor site of RFFF which were resurfaced with split thickness skin graft (STSG) only and STSG overlying an $AlloDerm^{(R)}$. Patients were all males ranging from 59 to 74 years old (mean, 67.5). Three of them had tongue cancers, and the other showed hypopharyngeal cancer. All cases were pathologically confirmed as squamous cell carcinomas. We included the deep fascia into the flap, so called subfascially elevated RFFF in three cases, and in the other one, we dissected the RFFF suprafascially leaving the fascia intact. The donor site of the suprafascially elevated RFFF was resurfaced with STSG only. Among three of subfascially elevated RFFFs, donor-sites were covered with thin STSG only in one case, and STSG overlying $AlloDerm^{(R)}$ in two cases. All RFFFs were survived completely without any complication. The donor site of the suprafascially elevated RFFF was taken well with STSG only. But, the partial graft loss exposing brachioradialis and flexor carpi radialis muscle was unavoidable in all the subfascially elevated RFFFs irregardless of $AlloDerm^{(R)}$ application. Considering that many patients of the head and neck cancer are in old ages, we believe the RFFF is still a useful and versatile choice for resurfacing the head and neck region after cancer ablation. Its reliability and functional characteristics could override its criticism for donor site in old-aged cancer patients.