• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.622-627
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• 2007

Purpose: Although the autogenous tissue transfer has been the mainstay of the breast reconstruction, concern for the donor site morbidity can lead to the superseded method using tissue expander with implant or permanent expander-implant. However, the additional procedure of tissue expansion possibly cause discomfort and raise the cost. We tried to verify the efficacy of using the saline-filled breast implant by itself for the safe and convenient immediate breast reconstruction modality if the patients have small, round and non-ptotic breasts and the sufficient breast skin can be saved with mastectomy. Methods: From July 2002 to July 2005, 29 breasts of 26 patients were restored only with the saline-filled breast implant immediately after the skin sparing or nipple-areolar skin sparing mastectomy in Asan Medical Center. A pocket with pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscle was created and the implant was covered with this muscle pocket. Simultaneous contralateral augmentation was performed in patients whose mastectomy specimen weighed less than 100g. Results: Using only the saline-filled breast implant resulted in the successful reconstruction with few complications including partial necrosis of nipple areolar skin (five cases, 17.2%), capsular contracture (three cases, 10.3%), hematoma (one case, 3.4%), depigmentation of areolar skin (one case, 3.4%), hypertrophic scar (one case, 3.4%), which were all healed by conservative management. There were no significant complications such as implant exposure and subsequent removal. Conclusion: Immediate breast reconstruction only with the saline-filled breast implant can be a satisfactory alternative option for the patients whose breast is small, round and non-ptotic, especially when the nipple-areolar skin of the breast is preserved in the mastectomy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2014

Background Extensive degloving injuries of the extremities usually result in necrosis of the flap, necessitating comprehensive skin grafting. Provided there is a sufficient tool to evaluate flap viability, full-thickness skin can be used from a nonviable avulsed flap. We used a Wood's lamp to determine the viability of avulsed flaps in the operation field after intravenous injection of fluorescein dye. Methods We experienced 13 cases during 16 months. Fifteen minutes after the intravenous injection of fluorescein dye, the avulsed skin flaps were examined and non-fluorescent areas were marked under Wood's lamp illumination. The marked area was defatted for full-thickness skin grafting. The fluorescent areas were sutured directly without tension. The non-fluorescent areas were covered by defatted skin. Several days later, there was soft tissue necrosis within the flap area. We measured necrotic area and revised the flap. Results Among all the cases, necrotic area was 21.3% of the total avulsed area. However, if we exclude three cases, one of a carelessly managed patient and two cases of the flaps were inappropriately applied, good results were obtained, with a necrotic area of only 8.4%. Eight patients needed split-thickness skin grafts, and heel pad reconstruction was performed with free flap. Conclusions A full-thickness skin graft from an avulsed flap is a good method for addressing aesthetic concerns without producing donor site morbidity. Fluorescein dye is a useful, simple, and cost-effective tool for evaluating flap viability. Avulsed flap injuries can be managed well with Wood's lamp illumination and a full-thickness skin graft.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.246-249
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• 1998

With the recent progress of microsurgical techniques, radial forearm free flap has an established place in oral reconstruction. Providing thin, soft and pliable skin with a large and constant vascular pedicle, this flap is optimal for intraoral reconstruction. One of the disadvantages of the flap is donor site morbidity, therefore various methods can be used to reduce it. A male complained of palatal and retromolar area mass with ulceration, which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. He also complained of discomfort and mouth opening limitation, attributed to the location and characteristics of the mass. Because of mouth opening limitation, mandibular swing approach was performed to allow for the surgical approach to the mass. After the surgical excison of the lesion, the intraoral defect was successfully reconstructed with radial forearm free flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 1996

With the increasing esthetic requirement in orthognathic surgeries, midfacial corrective surgeries were developed to improve the paranasal depression. Augmentation with autogenous bones has long been the standard in facial reconstruction, however limited graft availability, donor site morbidity, and difficulties in 3-dimensional shaping were led to limited use. Porous high density polyethylene$(Medpor{(R)})$ was introduced in the 1970s as an alloplastic implants. It can be used in various size and shapes, and shortend operation time. The purpose of this study is to determine, by means of cephalometrics, the degree of long term stability and gaining of the overlying soft tissue thickness. The results were as followings : 1. There was no evidence of foreign body reaction, infection, and tissue necrosis. 2. $(Medpor{(R)})$ implants had an advantage of clinical use ; easy to contour and adapt to obtain a precise 3-dimensional construction. 3. Cephalometric study of 16 cases of paranasal augmentation revealed an overall increase of soft tissue thickness of approximately 82.1% in 6-months following. 4. The successful results could be obtained under the aseptic handling.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2002

Purpose : Our clinical experiences in distally based sural artery island flap is presented to show the usefulness and the reliability as an alternative to flaps currently used for defect in lower extremity. Materials and Methods : From February 1998 to September 2001, nine cases of soft tissue defects in the lower leg, the foot, and around the ankle were treated with distally based sural artery island flap. The cause of the wound was trauma in 6 cases, and osteomyelitis in 3 cases. Defects were located at the lower leg in 2 cases, at the foot in 3 cases and around the ankle in 4 cases. The results were retrospectively analyzed. Results : The defect size ranged from $3{\times}3cm\;to\;20{\times}3cm$. Among 9 cases, 7 cases survived and 2 cases were failed. Flap failure was due to not including the deep fascia in one case and due to extensive soft tissue damage in the other case. Both failed cases were reoperated with the split thickness skin graft. Conclusion : The advantages of distally based sural artery island flap follows (1) reliable blood supply, (2) ease of flap elevation, (3) preservation of the major arteries, (4) less donor site morbidity. Owing to the advantages of this flap, we think it is useful for the soft tissue coverage of the lower leg, the foot and around the ankle. Also we believe it will continue to gain acceptance and use in the majority of lower leg reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2007

There could be several methods for trochanteric reconstruction including local flap, pedicled perforator flaps, free flap, etc. We performed greater trochanteric reconstruction with lumbar artery perforator free flap in some aberrant method. So we report this experience with review of literatures. A 42-year-old man visited our hospital with a large soft tissue defect in his left greater trochanteric area by traffic accident. The patient had wide skin and soft tissue defect combined with open femur fracture. During one month period of admission, he underwent femur open reduction and wound debridement four times. After that we planned thoracodorsal perforator free flap reconstruction. The flap was outlined as large as $20{\times}15\;cm$ and elevated in a suprafascial plane from the lateral border. During intramuscular perforator dissection, we found that two 1.5 mm diametered perforator vessels coursed inferomedially toward second lumbar region. Finally the flap became lumbar artery perforator flap based on second lumbar artery perforator as a main pedicle. After flap transfer, the perforator vessels were connected with inferior gluteal artery and vein microsurgically. The operation was successful without uneventful course. We found no significant postoperative complication and donor site morbidity during six months follow up periods. Lumbar artery perforator flap could be an alternative procedure for thoracodorsal perforator flap in some patients with anatomic variant features.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.715-722
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• 2006

Purpose: The main advantages of the perforator flap are minimal donor site morbidity, preservation of any main source artery and its thin characteristics. Most perforator flaps for hand reconstruction need primary and secondary procedures such as a flap debulkiness and liposuction etc. However, flap thickness of calf area is thinner than any other perforator flaps. Methods: We performed an anatomical study and clinical application of medial sural artery perforator flap. We found that there are two or more medial sural perforators located on a straight line drawn from the mid-point of popliteal crease to the mid-point of medial malleolus. Most pathway of medial sural artery comes along with this line. It is possible to observe the first perforators almost exactly 8 cm from midpoint of popliteal crease in a distal half circle drawn with a radius of 2 cm. Results: We report 12 cases in 11 patients of hand reconstruction with medial sural perforator free flap from Febrary 2003 to Febrary 2006. Complete healing was possible in 11 cases. Total flap loss for venous insufficiency was in 1 patient. During the follow-up, good contour and full range of motion was observed on hand reconstruction with medial sural perforator free flap. Conclusion: In the authors' experience, this anatomical study made it possible to prepare a diagram of the exact location of the medial sural perforators. This flap can be used to achieve acceptable functional and aesthetic results for hand reconstruction because of its thin characteristics.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2005

Defect on the temporal area caused by, surgical ablation of a tumor or an infection should be reconstructed immediately to prevent potentially life-threatening complications such as meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The defect on the temporal area usually presents as a typical 'cone-shape'. Successful reconstruction requires sufficient volume of well-vascularized soft tissue to cover the exposed bone and dura. From 1994 through 2003, the authors applied rectus abdominis free flap for the reconstruction of the temporal defect from 1994 through 2003. There were 10 patients with a mean age of 52.1 years. Of these 10 patients, external auditory canal cancer was present in four patients, temporal bone cancer in two, parotid gland cancer in one and three patients were reconstructed after debridement of infection(destructive chronic otitis media). All the free flaps survived, and flap-related complications did not occur. Compared to a local flap, the rectus abdominis free flap can provide sufficient volume of well-vascularized tissue to cover the large defect and can be well-tolerated during an adjuvant radiation therapy. The long and flat muscle can be easily molded to fit in to the 'cone-shape' temporal defect without dead space. It is also preferred because of the low donor site morbidity, a large skin island and an excellent vascular pedicle. Two-team approach without position change is possible. In conclusion, the authors think that rectus abdominis free flap should be considered as one of the most useful method for the reconstruction of a cone-shaped temporal defect.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.688-694
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• 2006

Purpose: Reconstruction of the craniofacial defects can be carried out with autogenous tissues, allogenic implants, or alloplastic materials. Titanium mesh systems have been used for bony reconstruction in non load-bearing areas. They offer several advantages: immediate availibility without any donor site morbidity, easy handling, stable 3-D reconstruction, and low susceptibility to infection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness and complications of titanium mesh system in the reconstruction of the craniofacial defects. Methods: From Jan. 2000, to Dec. 2004, we performed reconstruction of craniofacial bone defects in 21 patients who had benign or malignant tumor and fracture events in the cranium, orbit, nasal bone, maxilla, zygoma and the mandible. The size of the defects ranged from $1.0{\times}1.5cm$ to $12{\times}10cm$. Two different mesh systems, micro-titanium augmentation mesh and dynamic mesh was used for bony reconstruction in non load-bearing areas. The patients were evaluated from 1 to 4 yrs clinically and radiographically with a mean follow up period of 1.5 yrs. Results: There were no serious complications, including wound infection, foreign body reaction, exposures or loos of the mesh, central infection and pathologic findings of bone around mesh exception of one patient, who had expired of skull base tumor recurrence. Long-term stability of the reconstructions and the overall functional and aesthetic outcome was excellent. Conclusion: Our experiences demonstrate that the Titanium mesh system is a relatively safe and efficient method in the craniofacial reconstruction and have broadens our choices of therapeutic procedures in the craniomaxillofacial surgery.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2012

We reviewed the clinical features of 2 patients who underwent surgery for subungal exostosis, focusing on postoperative deformity of the nail. The lesion destroyed the nail bed and was excised with a direct approach. then thin split-thickness sterile matrix graft was done after excision of the tumor because the defect of the nail bed was large. Good postoperative appearance of the nail was obtained by thin split-thickness sterile matrix graft. The use of thin split-thickness sterile matrix graft for the replacement of a nail bed defect can regain a smooth, adherent, and normal-looking nail and avoid donor-site morbidity. Thin split-thickness toe-nail bed graft is a good choice for the prevention of postoperative deformity.