• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2005

There are limited treatment options in the reconstruction of the very large defect in the metaphyseal portion of distal femur and proximal tibia. Fibula is one of the most popular donor of the long bone reconstruction in reconstructive microsurgical field. It has many advantages such as very strong strut tubular bone, very reliable vascular anatomy with large vascular diameter and long pedicle. There are limited donor site problems such as transient peroneal nerve dysfunction. In those situations with the huge long bone defects in distal femur or proximal tibia, the defective bony shape and strength of the transplanted fibular bone is not enough if only one strut of the fibula is transferred. We performed 7 cases of "doule barrel" fibular transplantation on the metaphyseal portion of distal femur and proximal tibial large defects in which it is very difficult to fill the bony gap with conventional bone graft or callotasis methods. It takes averaged 8.3 months since that procedure to obtain bony union. After solid union of the transferred double barrelled fibular graft. There were no stress fracture in our series. So we can propose double barrel fibular graft is useful method in those cases with very large bone defect on the metaphysis of large long bone.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2004

Materials and Methods: Total number of peroneal perforator flap is 14 cases, which 10 cases were man, 4 cases were woman. The range of age was 12 years old minimally and until 63 years old. The trauma was most common etiology, which was like traffic accidents, 9 cases. We confirmed tibialis anterior artery patency by doppler flow meter, angiography as preoperative evaluation. Results: 1. The success rate was 91%, that in 14 cases, 13 cases were succeded. 2. To obtain successful result of peroneal flap, one must have the anatomic concept for vascular pattern, 8 cases were between peroneus muscle and soleus muscle branch type but, 3 cases were through soleus muscle branch type, so we treated these cases by using soleus muscle including peroneal perforating branch not to injury perforating artery directly. 3. The pedicle size was between minimally $2{\times}2.5cm$ and maximally $6.5{\times}8.5cm$ so we could treat large recipient site. 4. The pedicle length was between minimally 3.2 cm and maximally 11.5cm, average 7.5 cm. 5. The diameter of perforating artery was estimated by inspection, that was about 0.2-0.5 cm Conclusion: The peroneal perforating artery flap has merits that we can approach in avascular zone and has wide movable range from foot to distal femur and little donor site mobidity and can harvest osteocutaneous flap. The weak point was the irregular anatomy of nutrient artery and not to contain sensory nerve.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.485-489
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• 2007

Purpose: The basic vascular anatomy and versatility of the anterolateral thigh flap was reported firstly by Song in 1984 and then by Zhang who introduced the reverse flow pattern of this flap. In this case, the authors reviewed various articles and their experiences with the distally based anterolateral thigh flap and applied it for coverage of bone-exposed wound occurred at the distal of the disarticulated knee stump. We consequently reported the reliability and resourcefulness of this flap in the difficult and limited situation. Methods: A 67-year-old-man who had suffered from arteriosclerotic obliterans inevitably underwent the disarticulation at knee joint due to clinical deterioration. He presented to our clinic with soft tissue necrosis and bone exposure at the stump. We debrided the wound and conducted the distally based anterolateral thigh island flap by transecting proximal portion of descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and the $14{\times}10cm$ sized flap was transferred to cover the defect. The pedicle measured 14 cm in length with pivot point 7 cm above the patella. Results: The postoperative course was mainly uneventful except early venous congestion for 4 days and subsequent partial skin loss. The wound was healed by secondary intension and no other sequelae had been observed during follow-up period of 12 months. Conclusion: Despite the presence of various reconstructive choices, the distally based anterolateral thigh island flap can be designed to repair soft tissue defects around the knee region, providing its reliable blood supply and long pedicle length, especially in the challenging cases.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2015

High-pressure (HP) injection injury to the upper extremity often causes a very serious clinical problem, leading to poor outcomes, including amputation, so that a true surgical emergency is required. The outcomes can be improved with emergent wide surgical debridement. However the diagnosis of these injuries is often delayed due to underestimated evaluation at first appearance and lack of common knowledge of the seriousness of this injury. The type and pressure of the infecting material is an important factor in prognosis and organic solvents infected pressure injury can cause poor outcome and increased amputation rate. In this case, we report on reconstruction of HP oil-based paint injection injuries of the finger using T-shaped pedicles and multiple venous anastomoses. In this concept, arterial flow can be maintained by the reverse flow of distal anastomosis when there is difficulty with the proximal anastomosis. And venous flow can be preserved by deep and superficial vein anastomosis. This concept has various advantages including preserving patency of the pedicle in chronic vasculopathy or trauma cases and maintaining the arterial flow by the reverse flow of distal anastomosis and can improve the free flap survival by a two vascular anastomosis system.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.428-434
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• 2005

Extensive and complicated defects on the body call for an omnipotent tool for a perfect reconstruction. Flaps derived from the omentum has many advantages over the conventional flaps. From 1999 to 2004, Omental flaps were applied for various soft tissue reconstructions. Among total 20 total 7 cases were for immediate reconstruction, 2 cases for chronic infection, 3 cases for simultaneous reconstruction of two defects, 4 cases for functional joint reconstruction and 4 cases were for flow- through revascularization. Among these cases, 3 cases were operated with minimal incision harvest technique. There were no complete flap failures, partial necrosis of the distal parts were noted on three cases. The omental flap is indicated on a large contaminated defect reconstruction due to its large size, well-vascularized, and malleable properties. The omental flap provides several additional advantages over other flaps, which are; the availability of the one staged simultaneous reconstruction of two defects with one flap, providing gliding function for the joint motion, and a flow-through characteristics with long vascular pedicle. But there are some serious shortcomings, including a long abdominal scar and intraabdominal problems. However, these are rare and can be minimized with our minimal incision technique. Due to its unique characteristics. the omentum is one of the ideal tissues for the reconstruction of the complicated soft tissue defects due to its unique characteristics.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1992

The management of giant cell tumor involving juxta-articular portion has always been a difficult problem. In certain some giant cell tumors with bony destruction, a wide segmental resection may be needed for preventing to recur. But a main problem is preserving of bony continuity in bony defect as well as preservation of joint function. The traditional bone grafts have high incidence in recurrence rate, delayed union, bony resorption, stress fracture despite long immobilization and stiffness of adjuscent joint. We have attemped to overcome these problems by using a microvascular technique to transfer the fibula with peroneal vascular pedicle as a living bone graft. From Apr. 1984 to Nov. 1990, we performed the reconstruction of wide bone defect after segmental resection of giant cell tumor in 4 cases, using Vascularized Fibular Graft, which occur at the distal radius in 3 cases and at the proximal tibia in 1 case. An average follow-up was 2 years 8 months, average bone defect after wide segmental resection of lesion was 11.4cm. These all cases revealed good bony union in average 6.5months, and we got the wide range of motion of adjacent joint without recurrence and serious complications.

• 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 Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.432-435
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• 2007

Purpose: The jejunal free flap has the shorter ischemic time than other flap and requires a laparotomy to harvest it. As the evaluation of the perfusion the buried flap is very important, the perfusion of the buried jejunal free flap requires monitoring for its salvage. We tried to improve the monitoring flap method in the jejunal free flap and examined its usefulness. Methods: From March 2002 to March 2006, the monitoring flap method was applied to 4 cases in 8 jejunal free flaps for the pharyngeal and cervical esophageal reconstructions. The distal part of the jejunal flap was exposed without suture fixation through cervical wound for monitoring its perfusion. The status of perfusion was judged by the color change of jejunal mucosa and mesentery. If necessary, pin prick test was performed. Doppler sonography was applied to mesenteric pedicle of the monitoring flap in case of suspicious abnormal circulation. Results: The monitoring flap shows no change in 3 cases, but the congestion happened in one case at the 12 hours after the operation. This congestion was caused by the twisting or kinking of the mesenteric pedicle of the monitoring flap. So, we fixed up the monitoring flap close to adjacent cervical skin for prevention of rotation. Finally, the main part of transferred jejunal flap was intact. Conclusion: The success of a jejunal free flap depends on close postoperative monitoring and early detection of vascular compromise. So, various monitoring methods have been tried, for instance, direct visualization using a fiberoptic pharyngoscope, through a Silastic window placed in the neck flap, or external surface monitoring with an Doppler sonography, use of a buried monitoring probe. But, all of the above have their own shortcomings of simplicity, non-invasiveness, reliability and etc. In our experience, monitoring flap can be a accurate and reliable method.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 1998

Microvascular surgery has been widely used clinically for over 30 years. Although many types of free skin and myocutaneous flap are being used at present, surgeons are still looking for new flaps to suit the specific requirements of different recipient sites, to reduce the deformity at the donor site, to ease the management of the flap and to increase the success rate of those operations. The lateral thigh free flap was designed and reported simultaneously with the medial thigh free flap by Baek in 1983. The flap, based on the third perforator of the profunda femoris artery. is designed on the posterolateral aspect of the distal thigh. Clinically, the vascular variations and the locations of perforators of this system can be determined preoperatively with simple angiograms and Dopper audiometry. The lateral thigh free flap is suitable for reconstruction of defects in an oral floor with tongue and esophageal deficits, scalp defects with dural defects, and large full thickness defects of the lip. The advantages of this flap are safe elevation, a long vascular pedicles with a large lumen, skin that is generally thin, and good pliability. Furthermore, the skin territory is very wide and long. The donor site is hidden and therefore more acceptable to the patient. The disadvantage of this flap is that the anatomy of the pedicle vessels has irregular derivation from the main vessel. We had reconstructed lateral thigh free flap to the nine patients from January, 1997 to July, 1998 and got satisfactory results. In this paper we illustrate the arterial anatomy of the thigh and usefulness of this flap for the reconstruction of the head and neck.