• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.118-125
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• 2024

Tamai zone 4 replantation, defined as the replantation at a level proximal to the flexor digitorum superficialis' insertion and distal to where the common digital artery branches into the proper digital artery, has poor functional results because making orthosis and rehabilitation protocols that protect the bone and the flexor and extensor tendons simultaneously difficult. Two cases of Tamai zone 4 replantation are presented: one case of an index finger replantation at the proximal phalanx and a case of ring finger replantation at the proximal interphalangeal joint. The author did not repair the flexor tendon intentionally in the primary replantation and performed two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction later. The total active motions (TAMs) at the last follow-up were 215 and 180 degrees, respectively, with the latter distal interphalangeal joint being an arthrodesis. Both cases had no extension lag in the proximal interphalangeal joint. These results were much better than those in previous reports, in which the mean TAM was 133 degrees or less. The good results appeared to be mainly due to the reasonable and clear postoperative rehabilitation protocols made by the proposed procedure. This procedure may be useful for obtaining reproducible functional results even in Tamai zone 4 replantation.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2009

Purpose: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the treatment results of chronic Achilles tendon rupture by Lindholm method. Materials and Methods: Between 2002 and 2006, we performed the reconstruction of the Achilles tendon by using of the gatrocnemius-sloeus fascia known as Lindholm method. Ten cases of ten patients were enrolled in this study (8 men and 2 women). The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 49 years (range, 32${\sim}$66 years). The mean follow-up duration was 15.2 months (range, 12${\sim}$19 months). The retrospective review of the clinical history, physical examination, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score were conducted. Results: The mean AOFAS score before surgery was 74.10${\pm}$2.56 and that of the latest follow-up was 90.60${\pm}$5.72. The excellent results were six and good results were four patients. Eight patients were normal triceps power and the others were good. The average of heel to floor distance was 4.5 mm less in the operated legs than the contralateral ones in each patient, but there was no significant difference (p>0.05). The average of calf muscle circumference in the mid-leg was 7.5 mm less in the operated legs than the contralateral ones and there was significant difference (p<0.05). The active range of motion of the ankles, mean plantarflexion was 40 degrees and dorsiflexion was 16.8 degrees in operated side. The contralateral side was 43 degrees in plantarflexion and 19 degrees in dorsiflexion. No case showed rerupture of the reconstructed Achilles tendon. One patient had the superficial wound infection which was treated successfully by antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: It was suggested that the overall results of Lindholm method for the chronic Achilles tendon rupture indicated satisfactory outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical and radiologic results of the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone unit with doubled semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Materias and Methods : Clinical results of ACL reconstructions which were performed in 47 patients using doubled semitendinosus and gracilis were compared with those performed in 45 patients using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. There were no differences in preoperative parameters(age, sex, instability). Average follow-up period were 17 months and 19 months each. Results : There were no significant differences between two groups in functional results (Lysholm knee score), degree of laxity and range of motion at final follow-up. However, the parapatellar complication, especially anterior knee pain after long distance walking or exercise and quadriceps weakness less occurred in hamstring tendon group than in bone-patellar tendon-bone group. Conclusion : Although there were no significant differences in clinical results of ACL reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft and doubled semitendinosus and gacilis, parapateller complications occurred more in the bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft group than in the doubled semitendinosus and gracilis group. It is thought that the careful selection of patient, achivement of skillful technique and active rehabilitation are important to prevent the parapatellar complications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-308
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• 2010

Purpose: Many causes for triggering or locking of the fingers have been discussed in other literatures. The most common one is known stenosing tenosynovitis, which causes, a mismatch between the volume of the flexor tendon sheath and its contents. However, repeated trauma to the hand is uncommon cause of trigger finger. Therefore, we present a case of a rare condition of stenosing tenosynovitis which developed from a repeated relatively weak superficial flexor tendon injury. Methods: The patient was a 62-year-old woman who showed a painless, fixed and round mass on her right hand with no particular cause. Active and passive range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger was limited in flexion and extension. Ultrasonographic finding showed injured flexor digitorum superficialis tendon had fibrillar architecture with swelling between hyperechoic synovial membrane and hypoechoic surrounding area. Surgical exploration revealed that a bunched portion of the flexor digitorum superficialis and A1 pulley cause triggering during operation after adhesiolysis of scar tissue. Results: After releasing the A1 pulley, the range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger showed no limitation and histological examination of the subcutaneous tissue revealed fibrous fatty degeneration. In this case, releasing the A1 pulley with adhesiolysis of the subcutaneous scar tissue was successful and we obtained good functional outcome. Conclusion: We examined a patient in whom a repetitive impact forces to the palm caused longitudinal tear of the flexor tendon, leading to trigger finger. We experienced a rare case of stenosing tenosynovitis and trigger finger caused after close injury to flexor digitorum superficialis and its degenerative changes that caused mass like effect. To the best of authors' knowledge, our case of close injury to the flexor digitorum superficialis and unique morphologic change before rupture of tendon is rarely to be reported.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.773-778
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• 2013

Background In the management of mallet deformities, oblique retinacular ligament (ORL) reconstruction provides a mechanism for automatic distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint extension upon active proximal interphalangeal joint extension. The two variants of ORL reconstruction utilize either the lateral band or a free tendon graft. This study aims to compare these two surgical techniques and to assess any differences in functional outcome. As a secondary measure, the Mitek bone anchor and pull-in suture methods are compared. Methods A single-institutional retrospective review of ORL reconstruction was performed. The standard patient demographics, injury mechanism, type of ORL reconstruction, and pre/postoperative degree of extension lag were collected for the 27 cases identified. The cases were divided into lateral band (group A, n=15) and free tendon graft groups (group B, n=12). Group B was subdivided into the pull-in suture technique (B-I) and the Mitek bone anchor method (B-II). Results Overall, ORL reconstructions had improved the mean DIP extension lag by $10^{\circ}$ (P=0.027). Neither the reconstructive technique choice nor bone fixation method identified any statistically meaningful difference in functional outcome (P=0.51 and P=0.83, respectively). Soft-tissue injury was associated with $30.8^{\circ}$ of improvement in the extension lag. The most common complications were tendon adhesion and rupture. Conclusions The choice of the ORL reconstructive technique or the bone anchor method did not influence the primary functional outcome of extension lag in this study. Both lateral band and free tendon graft ORL reconstructions are valid treatment methods in the management of chronic mallet deformity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2010

In chronic ambulatory hemiplegic patients, structural changes might be developed at both ankles possibly due to unequal and repetitive weight bearing on tendons and ligaments. We examined ankles by sonography to find out structural changes of tendons and ligaments of both ankles in ambulatory hemiplegic patients. Nineteen ambulatory hemiplegic patients over 1 year were included as study subjects. All subjects had no previous trauma or disease history in their ankle joints and they were able to walk independently or with supervision but had spastic ankles with equinovarus tendency. We examined both ankle joints by sonography to see joint effusion and measure width, thickness, and area of tendons of the tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, and Achilles, and also ligaments of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular. We compared sonographic features of the hemi-side ankle with the sound-side ankle. There were no significant differences between hemi-side and sound-side ankles in almost all measured parameters of tendons and ligaments. However, the width of the hemi-side tibialis posterior tendon ($7.24{\pm}1.52$ mm) was narrower than the sound-side tendon ($8.61{\pm}1.37$ mm). With the amount of active joint motion and weight bearing possibly preventing ligament and tendon atrophy even though marked weakness, spasticity occurred during the chronic hemiplegic phase.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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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.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2015

Background: Twenty-six patients (12 male and 14 female) with symptomatic scapular winging caused by serratus anterior dysfunction were managed by split pectoralis major tendon transfer (sternal head) with autogenous hamstring tendon augmentation from 1998 to 2006. Methods: Twenty-five patients showed positive results upon long thoracic nerve palsy on electromyography. The mean duration of symptoms until surgery was 48 months (range, 12-120 months). Four patients had non-traumatic etiologies and 22 patients had traumatic etiologies. On follow-up assessment for functional improvement, a Constant-Murley score was used. Twenty-one patients were completely evaluated, while five patients who had less than 12 months of follow-up were excluded. Results: Pain relief was achieved in 19 of the 21 patients, with 20 patients showing functional improvement. The pain scores improved from 6.0 preoperatively to 1.8 postoperatively. The mean active forward elevation improved from $108^{\circ}$ (range, $20^{\circ}-165^{\circ}$) preoperatively to $151^{\circ}$ (range, $125^{\circ}-170^{\circ}$) postoperatively. The mean Constant-Murley score improved from 57.7 (range, 21-86) preoperatively to 86.9 (range, 42-98) postoperatively. A recurrence developed in one patient. Of the 21 patients, ten had excellent results, six had good results, four had fair results, and one had poor results. Conclusions: Most patients with severe symptomatic scapular winging showed functional improvement and pain relief with resolution of scapular winging.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2001

Object: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of an empty can test for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon tear. Methods: We reviewed 146 patients who have shoulder pain with limited active range of motion. We evaluated patients according to empty can test. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for supraspinatus test was estimated using arthroscopic evaluation. Results: A hundred and twenty-four of 127 cases with positive empty can test had supraspinatus tendon tear. Of 19 samples with negative empty can test, 15 had no supraspinatus tear. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the empty can test were 97.6%, 83.3%, 97.6%, and 78.9%, respectively. Conclusions: Empty can test was found to have a high sensitivity and good positive predictive value in identifying the tear of rotator cuff tendon. We concluded that empty can test of the shoulder is a reliable diagnostic method which could be used for the diagnosis of rotator cuff tear.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2014

The composite anterolateral thigh flap with vascularized fascia lata has emerged as a workhorse at our institution for complex Achilles defects requiring both tendon and soft tissue reconstruction. Safe elevation of this flap, however, is occasionally challenged by absent or inadequate perforators supplying the anterolateral thigh. When discovered intraoperatively, alternative options derived from the same vascular network can be pursued. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who underwent composite Achilles defect reconstruction using a segmental rectus femoris myofascial free flap. Following graduated rehabilitation, postoperatively, the patient resumed full activity and was able to ambulate on his tip-toes. At 1-year follow-up, active total range of motion of the reconstructed ankle exceeded 85% of the unaffected side, and donor site morbidity was negligible. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and Short Form-36 scores improved by 78.8% and 28.8%, respectively, compared to preoperative baseline assessments. Based on our findings, we advocate for use of the combined rectus femoris myofascial free flap as a rescue option for reconstructing composite Achilles tendon/posterior leg defects in the setting of inadequate anterolateral thigh perforators. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe use of this flap for such an indication.