• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1996

From Fabuary 1982 to May 1995, 396 patients had undergone reconstructive surgery of the upper and lower limb with microsurgical technique at department of orthopaedic surgery, Yonsei University of Medicine. The results were as follows; 1. Average age at the time of operation was 23.4years(2-64 years), and there were 277 male and 119 female patients. 2. Among 324 patients of soft tissue flap(87 inguinal flap, 132 scapular flap, 38 latissimus dorsi flap, 11 latissimus dorsi and scapular combind flap, 6 gracilis flap, 12 deltoid flap, 3 tensor facia lata flap, 11 dorsalis pedis flap, 6 lateral thigh flap, 12 wrap around flap, 1 lateral arm flap, 5 musculocutaneous flap), 274 cases(85.5%) were succeed. 3. Among 37 patients of vascularized bone graft(18 fibular bone graft, 11 iliac bone graft, 7 toe to finger transplantation,1 vascular pedicle rib graft), 30 cases(80.1%) were succeed. 4. In 26 cases of segmental resection and rotationplasty at lower extremity, 23 cases were succeed. 5. In 7 cases of Tikhoff-Linberg procedure and in 2 case of segmental resection and replantation, all case was succeed. Overall success rate of microscopic reconstructive surgery was 85.6%. In conclusion, microsurgical technigue is valuable for reconstruction of tissue defect or function loss of the limb.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2005

Between June 1989 and may 2004 Ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition was performed on nine patients with segmental tibial defects combined with infection following trauma. Ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft was performed on two or three stage according to the degree of infection. Initially free vascular pedicled graft was done followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft. Type of free flap used is scapular free flap 3 cases, latissimus dorsi free flap 5 cases and dorsalis pedis flap 1 cases. The patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years. the average time to union was 6.7 months, and in all patients the graft healed in spite of complication. Complication was free flap venous thrombosis in 1 cases, persistent infection in 1 cases, delayed bony union at the distal end of fibular graft in 2 cases. The results showed that more faster bony union was seen in which cases firmly internally fixated and more faster hypertrophy of graft in which cases was permitted to ambulate on early weight bearing and more faster healing in which cases debrided more meticulously. Reconstruction of tibia defect with free flap followed by Ipsilateral fibular transposition is a useful and safe method to avoid the potential risk of infection for patients with tibial large bone defect and soft tissue defect associated with infection.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 1998

The ability for tissue transfer based on microvascular anastomosis has created a revolution in microsurgical free tissue transplantation. The advantages of cutaneous flaps are that they are soft, durable and provide a good cosmetic reconstruction and muscle flaps have a more vigorous blood supply and a longer, larger vascular pedicle than cutaneous flaps. From June 1992 through May 1997, 68 patients had received reconstructive microsurgery in the lower extremity at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. The results were as follows. 1. The age distribution was from 15 years of age to 67 and male were 59 cases and female 9 cases. 2. The most common cause was traffic accident(54 cases, 79.4%) and followed chronic osteomyelitis(9 cases, 13.2%), industrial accident(3 cases, 4.4%), burn(1 case, 1.5%) and farm injury(1 case, 1.5%). 3. Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap were 25 cases(36.8%), rectus abdominis muscle flap 21 cases(30.9%), gracilis muscle flap 10 cases(14.7%), dorsalis pedis flap 9 cases(13.2%), groin 2(2.9%) and vascularized iliac osteocutaneous flap 1(1.5%). 4. 61 cases(89.7%) of 68 cases were survived and the exposed vital tissues and bones were covered and revealed good cosmetic results.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 1997

One hundred and thirty-seven patients had reconstructive surgery of injured feet with microsurgical technique in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Yonsei University College of Medicine from 1983 to 1997. The results were as follows: 1. There were 89 cases in men and 48 cases in women, who together had a mean age of 21.3 years. 2. The causes of injuries were 97 cases from traffic accidents, 15 cases from burns, 11 cases from machinery injury, 5 cases from infection, 2 cases from falling, 2 cases from glass injury, 2 cases from snake bite, 2 cases from explosive injury, and 1 case from ulceration. 3. There were 47 cases with inguinal flaps, 36 cases with scapular flaps, 36 cases with parascapular flaps, 7 cases with deltoid flaps, 4 cases with lateral thigh flaps, 3 cases with latissimus dorsi flaps, 2 cases with tensor fascia lata flaps, and 2 cases with dorsalis pedis flaps. 4. One hundred and twenty-seven(92.7%) cases were successful in reconstructive surgery with microsurgical technique. 5. Functionally, the thick skin flap or sensory flap has less ulceration and good protective sensation. We considered that the function and cosmetic appearance were excellent after reconstructive surgery of the injured feet with microsurgical reconstructive technique and that the thick skin flap or sensory flap has less ulceration and good protective sensation.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.35-61
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• 1985

The surgical treatment of advanced carcinomas and some benign tumors having clinically malignant behaviors of the head and neck region often require extensive resection, necessitating large flaps for reconstruction. Since the original upper arm flap was described by Tagliacozzi in 1597, a variety of technique such as random pattern local flap, axial flap, distant flap, scalping flap, myocutaneous flap, free flap etc. have been proposed for reconstruction of head, face and neck defects. Reconstruction of the facial defects usually require the use of distant tissue. Traditionally, nasal reconstruction has been carried out with a variety of forehead flaps. In recent years, there has been more acceptance of immediate repairs following the removal of these tumors. As a result, patients are more willing to undergo these extensive resections to improve their chances of cure, with the reasonable expectation that an immediate reconstruction will provide an adequate cosmetic result. Authors experienced 13 cases of head and neck tumor during last three and half years that required wide excision and immediate reconstruction with various flaps, not with primary closure or simple skin graft. We present our experience with varied flaps for reconstruction after wide resection of head and neck tumors 3 cases of defect of dorsum of nose or medial canthus with island forehead flaps, lower eyelid defect with cheek flap, cheek defect with Limberg flap, orbital floor defect with Temporalis muscle flap, lateral neck defects with Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap or Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap, subtotal nose defect with scalping flap, wide forehead defect with Dorsalis pedis free flap and 3 cases of mandibular defect or mandibular defect combined with lower lip defect were reconstructed with free vascularized iliac bone graft or free vascularized iliac bone graft concomitantly combined with free groin flap pedicled on deep circumflex iliac vessels We obtained satisfactory results coincided wi th goal of treatment of head and neck tumors, MAXIMAL CURE RATE with MINIMAL MORBIDITY, OPTIMAL FUNCTION, and an APPEARANCE as close to normal as possible.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 1996

From January 1980 to May 1995, ninety-six patients had been treated by free-flap transfer for the soft tissue defects of the extremities. Ninety-eight cases of free-tissue transfer were reviewed to evaluate the clinical reliability in terms of survival and quality of long-time function after reconstructive surgery. Among these 98 cases(27 cases in latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, 25 in dorsalis pedis flap, 20 in forearm fasciocutaneous flap, 9 in groin flap, 7 in gracilis myocutaneous flap, 6 in 1st web space flap of foot and 4 cases in tensor fascia lata flap), 92 cases of then were survived. 7 cases were performed with vein grafts. We ananalyzed the reconstruction of the extremities on 98 cases with the soft tissue defects which had been reconstructed free-flap transfer and followed for minimum 1 year period at Korea University Hospital. 1. 92 cases(93.9%) of the total 98 cases were successful and can be obtained the excellent results in soft tissue free-flap transfer. 2. While there were no clinically significant differences in survival rate of flaps transferred from different potential flap donor sites,3 cases of 9 groin flaps were showed higher failure rate due to the complications such as arterial thrombosis, infection and anatomical variation of vessels. 3. Postoperative thrombectomy was performed in 30 cases to be occured in the arterial and venous thrombosis. The revision was failed in 2 cases due to persistent arterial thrombosis and infection, then treated with skin graft. 4. Vein graft was frequently required in severely compromised-soft tissue defects resulted from high-energy trauma. The vein graft was not stitistically significant on the frequency of flap failure rate(P<0.04). 5. Meticulous monitoring, careful planning, early revision and technical considerations will provide for a high clinical success of the free-flap transfer.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 1997

Traumatic injury to the hand often leads to soft tissue defects with exposed tendons, bones, or joints. Though many new flap have been introduced, the choice of flap that would be best for the patient depends on such factors as the site, size, and degree of wounds. Additionally the selected surgical method should be yielded cosmetic and functional superiority by the one-staged reconstruction. In our experience, small to medium sized soft tissue defect with bone and tendon exposure of hand can be resurfaced with an arterialized venous free flap from the volar aspect of distal forearm. Wide and deep defects of the hand can be covered with a sensory cutaneous free flap such as the medial plantar free flap, dorsalis pedis free flap, and radial forearm free flap. Specialized flap such as wrap-around flap, toe-to-finger transfer, onychocutaneous free flap can be used for the recontruction of defect on the thumb and finger. Based on the above considerations and our clinical experience of 60 free flap cases of the hand, the various methods for the proper repair of soft tissue defects of the hand are described. And we obtained satisfactory functional and cosmetic results with 95% success rate of free flap.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1997

The methods of clinical applications of the foot as a free-flap donor site includes microvascular toe-to-finger transfer, free neurovascular flap transfer, first web space flap transfer, and osteocutaneous free flap transfer. We have evaluated the results of treatment for 35 patients to be undergone a microvascular reconstructive procedure with the foot as a donor site from January 1982 to June 1996. The performed operations were 16 cases of thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure, 3 cases of tenocutaneous flap transfer, 10 cases of dorsalis pedis flap transfer, 2 cases of first web space free flap and 4 cases of toe-to-finger transfer. The follow up study was 69 months in average. Regarding to the various donor sites, morbidity was divided into five different categories: Cosmesis, Functional loss, Sensory loss, Wound complication, and Pain. According to the results of examination(35 patients), the results was excellent(25), good(9), fair(1), and poor(0). Among the categories, morbidity was higher at cosmesis. The patients under 50 years were better outcome. Among the operative methods from the foot as a donor site, thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure showed poorest outcomes. So, We conclude that the foot as a free flap donor site is a good source for the microvascular reconstructive surgery. But, Preoperative donor site evaluation, adequate operative technique and post operative management are essential to decrease the morbidity of donor site.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome and the effectiveness of local flaps in lower extremity reconstruction. Materials and Methods: We have performed lower extremity reconstruction with local flap in 14 cases (10 males and 4 females) from May 2006 to February 2008. The mean age was 40.1 years (range, 16~67). The defect site was the tibia in 5 cases, the ankle in 1 case and the foot in 8 cases. The local flaps were reverse flow sural artery flap in 7 cases, gastrocnemius flap in 3 cases, lateral supramalleolar flap in 2 cases, dorsalis pedis flap in 1 case and medial hemisoleus flap in 1 case. Results: All flaps were survived. Venous congestion was developed in 1 case of the rerverse flow sural artery flap but healed with secondary rotational flap. Other flaps were good without any complications. Conclusion: If we choose precisely indicated local flap in lower extremity reconstruction, the resultant coverage of defect would be excellent.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to present the clinical analysis of the results of lateral arm free flap for small sized and infected diabetic foot ulcer around toes. From May 2006 to December 2007, Seven patients were included in our study. Average age was 52.8 years, six were males and one was female. All had infected diabetic foot ulcer and had exposures of bone or tendon structures. Ulcers were located around great toe in four patients, 4th toe in one and 5th toe in two. Three patients had osteomyelitis of metatarsal or phalanx. After appropriate control of infection by serial wound debridement and intravenous antibiotics, lateral arm flap was applied to cover remained soft tissue defects. Posterior radial collateral artery of lateral arm flap was reanastomosed to dorsalis pedis artery of recipient foot by end to side technique in all cases in order to preserve already compromised artery of diabetic foot. All flaps were designed over lateral epicondyle to get longer pedicle and averaged pedicle length was 8 cm. Two cases were used as a sensate flap to achieve protective sensation of foot. All flaps survived and provided satisfactory coverage of soft tissue defects on diabetc foot ulcers. All patients could achieve full weight-bearing ambulation. No patients has had recurrence of infection, ulceration and further toe amputations. There were three complications, a delayed wound healing of flap with surrounding tissue, a partial peripheral loss of flap and a numbness of forearm below donor site. All patients were satisfied with their clinical results, especially preserving their toes and could return to the previous activity levels. Lateral arm free flap could be recommend for infected diabetic foot ulcers around toes, to preserve toes, coverage of soft tissue defect and control of infection with low donor site morbidity.