• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.186-190
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• 2007

Purpose: Plate systems have been used for osteosynthesis of cranial and oromaxillofacial fracture. However, there is no consensus on the need for routine removal of plate and the question about indications of removal. Therefore, we present the retrospective study to clarify the indications and consensus of removal. Methods: The medical records of patients who were treated with rigid internal fixation using plates after craniofacial trauma were reviewed. Study variables included age, gender, type of fracture, type of plate, seniority of the operator, causes of removal, and time between insertion and removal. All results amendable to statistics were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 to determine which set of variables might affect the fate of the plates. Results: For a period of 10 years (March 1, 1994 through July 31, 2004), total of 41 plates(6.7%) were removed among 609 plates inserted into 419 patients; 27 plates were removed from 15 patients for infection, which is the most common cause of removal accounting for 65.8%. Mean time between insertion and removal is 35.2 months and mean age is 41.4 years. Most plates were removed from combined fracture(14.92%) and facial fracture(8.47%) and these were statistically significant. The age, gender, seniority of the operator and other variables were not statistically associated with plate removal. Conclusion: This retrospective study shows that routine removal does not appear to be clinically indicated due to respectively low removal rate and that the commonest indications for removal were infection.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.485-489
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• 2011

Purpose: Median cleft of upper lip is defined as any congenital vertical cleft through the midline of the upper lip. It is uncommon, its embryological pathogenesis remains unexplained to date. The authors hereby report a rare case of median cleft of the upper lip associated with enlarged frenulum and palatal mass. This case offers some understanding of the possible embryologic development of this anomaly. Methods: A 10-month-old boy born by normal vaginal delivery at full-term had a notch in the midline of the upper lip with widened philtrum along with enlarged median frenulum, alveolar cleft, and mass of the hard palate. We performed en bloc resection of the enlarged frenulum and palatal mass and cheiloplasty under general anesthesia. Results: Histological examination revealed that the frenulum and palatal mass was consisted of fibrous tissue with normal mucous membrane. The postoperative course was satisfactory. Conclusion: A rare case of median cleft of the upper lip with associated enlarged frenulum and palatal mass was presented with proper surgical management. The surgical technique includes marginal excision of the clefted epithelium and reconstruction of orbicularis oris muscle, in addition to en bloc resection of the palatal mass and frenulotomy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.609-615
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• 2011

Purpose: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a relatively rare tumor that originates from the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is generally known that this tumor easily recurs but can be successfully treated with a wide excision. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate postoperative outcomes and risk factors for recurrence in patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans who were treated at a single institution for 20 years. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 35 patients who had underwent surgery between June 1992, and September 2010. The patients were assessed in terms of predilection site and size of the tumor, the incidence according to sex, discrepancy between biopsy results and histopathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen, additional treatment after recurrence, recurrence rate and the time interval to recurrence. Results: In multivariate analysis, the depth and site of the tumor were significant risk factors for tumor recurrence. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in tumors occurring in the upper extremity than those occurring in other regions ($p$=0.0348). In addition, the recurrence rate was significantly higher in tumors with involvement of the fascia and the deeper structures ($p$=0.0324, odds ratio=6, relative risk=1.588). Since dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans has strong invasiveness, its tissue involvement is difficult to evaluate accurately. Conclusion: The results of this study shows that involvement of the fascia and the deeper structures and occurrence in the upper extremity were associated with tumor recurrence. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of these risk factors to achieve better treatment outcomes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.519-522
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• 2011

Purpose: Breast implant surgery is increasing in Korea. NTM (non tuberculous mycobacteria) infection after breast implant surgery is rare, but it has been there reported in several foreign countries. However, no report has been issued on NTM infection after breast reconstruction surgery with an implant in Korea. The purpose of this article is to report a case of NTM infection after breast reconstruction surgery with an implant. Methods: A female patient who underwent total mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and an implant exhibited signs of inflammation after the surgery. Fluid cultures taken at the time of wound exploration were initially negative, but NTM was isolated by culture 10 days later. Results: The implant was removed. M. fortuitum was identified by acid-fast culture and NTM-PCR. The patient was treated with combined antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Although it is difficult to diagnose NTM infection after breast surgery, it is important that surgeons include NTM infection in the differential diagnosis of a post mammoplasty infection after breast implant surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.516-518
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• 2011

Purpose: The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis has increased worldwide. There are some reports about postoperative antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infection after craniofacial surgery, but, there is no report in Korea. We present a report on the treatment of postoperative multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MRSP) meningitis and sepsis after craniofacial surgery based on our experience. Methods: The patient was a 7-year-old boy with Crouzon's disease who was treated by fronto-orbital bar advancement. Intraoperatively, frontal sinus opening was seen during osteotomy which was covered with forehead galeopericranial flap. MRSP meningitis was diagnosed after the surgery, he was treated with intravenous vancomycin, meropenem, and levofloxacin. Results: The patient was treated successfully after 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotics treatment. During the 8 month follow-up period, there was no neurologic sequelae. Conclusion: Postoperative infection after craniofacial surgery is an important phenomenon that needs immediate recognition. Prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment immediate after onset are important as countermeasures against postoperative drug-resistant bacterial infection. To prevent adverse outcome and reoperation, proper antibiotics treatment should be performed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.369-374
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• 2010

Purpose: Most of the patients who underwent surgery feels variable kinds of fear or anxiety; an uncomfortable mood state that happens without specific object affects patient's satisfaction before and after the surgery. As music therapy is rather noninvasive method generally used in reducing patient's anxiety, the authors researched about the extent of anxiety with the change of vital sign before the operation while comparing with the cases of patients who took the music therapy at closed reduction under general anesthesia. Method: We divided the patients in 4 groups; A with the premedication (Midazolam, Dormicum$^{(R)}$) before the operation, B with the premedication and music therapy, C with only music therapy, D with no premedication or therapy. And we measured the vital signs after the arrival at the operation room, after induction and 20 minutes after the operation. Also we observed the changes of anxiety index with the STAI (State Trait Anxiety Inventory)-K (Korea)YZ 1 hour before and 8 hours after the surgery. Result: The group B showed the least changes in blood pressure as the group D showed the highest change. Both group C and A showed increase in blood pressure but the upswing in group A was lower than group C. At the change of pulse rate group B showed the lowest upswing also group D showing the highest. Group B showed quite a few upswing but lower than group D, but, at the same time, group A showed lower upswing when comparing two cases. After analysis of STAI-KYZ score, the anxiety relatively decreased in group B and C in comparison with group D. And the index of anxiety state of group A showed just as much to group D. Conclusion: The music therapy is better healthcare method compared to other therapies in reducing anxiety also with satisfying effect who underwent operation. The authors recommend music therapy assisted with use of premedication for better relief of anxiety.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.452-456
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• 2010

Purpose: The schwannoma is a benign peripheral nerve tumor arising from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath. Only 2-8% of schwannomas arise in the hand and wrist. Misdiagnosis is frequent such as ganglion and neurofibroma. This article documents and clarifies the clinical features of schwannomas arising in the hand and wrist, and emphasizes importance of differential diagnosis and meticulous surgical extirpation under magnification. Methods: The author reviewed clinical features of 15 patients with pathologic final diagnosis of schwannoma developed in hand and wrist during the last 12 years from 1998 through 2009. The review included the sex, age of onset, duration, preoperative diagnosis, location, involved nerve, preoperative symptoms and. Postoperative sequelae after surgical extirpation of the lesion with magnification, or without magnification of the surgical fields. Results: The chief complaints were slow growing firm mass in all patients, and followed by pain in 40%, and paresthesia in 40% respectively. The lesions were developed solitarily in 14 patients (93%). The postoperative pathologic diagnosis and preoperative diagnosis were coincided with only in 6 patients (40%). Other preoperative diagnosis were soft tissue tumor in 4 patient (26.6%), and ganglion in 3 patients (20%), and neurofibroma in 2 patients (13%). In all patients who were undergone surgical excision under the fields of magnification, all symptoms were subsided without any sequelae. Meanwhile muscle weakness, paresthesia, hypoesthesia and /or accidental nerve resection developed after surgical excision with naked eye. Conclusion: Schwannoma in hand most commonly appears as a slow growing solitary mass with pain or paresthesia. The chance of preoperative misdiagnosis was 60% in this series. To provide good prognosis and less sequelae, careful and elaborate diagnostic efforts and meticulous surgical excision under the magnification are necessary in management of schwannoma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.795-800
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• 2010

Purpose: According to various medical publications, it is believed that epinephrine should not be injected in fingers. However numerous articles show the successful use of local anesthetic with epinephrine in the digits. Epinephrine-mixed lidocaine solution enables to maintain a bloodless field for operation and provides long duration of local anesthesia when patient was wide awake. Methods: From May 2009 to December 2009, ten patients underwent flexor tendon reconstruction with local anesthesia using epinephrine. No tourniquet was necessary. Before operation, all patients were injected with local anesthetics using 1% lidocaine 20 mL and 0.1% epinephrine 0.1 mL. Results: There was no case of digital necrosis nor gangrene in the epinephrine injection. All 10 patients actively could move the finger through a full range of motion. All procedures were performed without sedation nor tourniquet and we could obtain a good vision of operative field and patients were comfortable. The patient make his or her fingers move through a full range of active motion before the skin is closed. Phentolamine was not required to reverse the vasoconstriction in any patients. Conclusion: The assertation that epinephrine should not be injected into the fingers is clearly no longer valid. The epinephrine injection allowed the authors to adjust flexor tendon surgery without risks associated with general anesthesia. It also enables to ensure longer anesthetic duration and bloodless operative field, and prevent post operative complications. In case of flexor tendon surgery, the use of epinephrine injection is recommended because of the advantages of local anesthesia.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.637-641
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• 2009

Purpose: Most unilateral secondary cleft lip nose deformities have depressed nostril base and sill on the cleft side. To obtain a symmetric nose, correction of the recession on nostril is critical. The authors have worked out effective methods to elevate the nostril of the cleft side according to the extent of the depression. Methods: A total of 115 unilateral secondary cleft lip nose deformity patients with nostril depression were evaluated. Data were acquired from patients' charts and photography with special reference to the height difference of the nostrils between the cleft side and the non - cleft side. Patients were divided into three groups based on the difference and operated with various techniques : (1) mild degree(< 1 mm) with graft, (2) moderate degree(1 ~ 3 mm) with C - flap or suspension suture of septal cartilage (3) severe degree(> 3 mm) with graft, C - flap and suspension suture. Follow - up period averaged 21.3 months. Results: Forty - six patients(40 percent) were in mild group, and forty - two(37 percent) were in moderate. In twenty - seven patients(23 percent), nostril recession was more than 3 mm. The elevated nostril base and sill were maintained without height alteration during follow - up. Conclusion: The symmetry of the nostril base, especially projection of nostril sill influences successful correction of unilateral cleft lip nose deformity. Our tolerable techniques can be applied to most deformities with nostril depression and can present a new guideline.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.816-822
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• 1989

Aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta can be caused by various etiologies. So, its abrupt rupture leads life-threatening state, it must be operated as soon as possible. Surgical treatment of the descending thoracic aortic aneurysm requires temporary cross-clamping of major artery. The obligatory occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta during management causes proximal arterial hypertension and distal arterial hypotension. The former may leads to left ventricular failure, or cerebrovascular accident, whereas the latter may leads to spinal cord ischemia or renal injury. Some have recommended insertion of temporary shunt around the occluded descending aorta to prevent above problems. Still others would favor expeditious operation employing simple aortic occlusion during the repair of the descending aorta. Recently we had experienced two cases of dissecting aneurysms of descending thoracic aorta which performed aortoplasty with Gore-Tex conduit under simple aortic occlusion. The one was 34-year-old female patient with traumatic dissecting aortic aneurysm [5 em X 5 cm] on the descending thoracic aorta distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and the other was 58-year-old female patient with atherosclerotic dissecting descending thoracic aortic aneurysm [6 cmX7 cm] and diffuse abdominal aortic aneurysms [3X5 cm]. Both patients performed standard left posterolateral thoracotomy. After the aneurysmal sac was mobilized, occluding vascular clamps were placed on the transverse aorta proximal to the origin of the left subclavian artery, and on the distal descending aorta without adjuvant bypass procedures for 31 and 32 minutes, respectively, and the aneurysmal sac was repaired with 18 mm ringed Gore-Tex conduit graft. Both patients postoperative courses were uneventful.