• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.45.1-45.8
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• 2015

Background: Radial forearm free flap is the most reliable flap for intraoral soft tissue reconstruction after cancer ablation surgery. However, unesthetic scar of the donor site and the need for a second donor site for skin graft are major disadvantages of the forearm flap. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical results of double-layered collagen graft to the donor site of the forearm free flap without skin graft. Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent oral cancer ablation and forearm reconstruction between April 2010 and November 2013 were included in this study. Male to female ratio was 12:10, and average age was 61.0 years old (27-84). Double-layered collagen was grafted to the donor site of the forearm free flap and healed for secondary intention. Upper silicone had been trimmed at the periphery during secondary intention, and dry dressing was used. Postoperative scar healing and esthetic results and function were evaluated. Results: An average follow-up period was 34.9 months. The scar area was decreased to 63.9 % in average. The complete healing was obtained between 1.5 and 3 months according to the defect size. There was no functional defect or impairment 3 months after operation. All patients were satisfied with the esthetic results. Three patients died of recurred cancer. Conclusions: Double-layered collagen graft was successfully performed in this study. Without the thigh skin graft, patients had experienced less painful postoperative healing periods and discomfort.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.239-253
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• 2021

Purpose: The single-flap approach (SFA) is a minimally invasive technique with limited mucoperiosteal flap elevation to gain access to the buccal/palatal aspects, thus limiting post-surgical complications. The purpose of the present study was to gain insights into the impact of the SFA over the double-flap approach (DFA) on periodontal flap treatment outcomes and patient compliance in terms of discomfort and time taken for surgical procedures. Methods: Twenty patients with persistent probing pocket depths of ≥5 mm were scheduled for the SFA (test site) and for the DFA (control site). All the clinical periodontal parameters were recorded at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Radiographic bone level (cone-beam computed tomography) was evaluated at baseline and 6 months. Patients' postoperative pain perception and wound healing were also assessed. Results: The SFA showed a significant reduction in periodontal pocket depth, gain in clinical attachment level (CAL), and gain in bone level when compared with the DFA. The SFA substantially improved wound healing and induced less postoperative pain than the DFA. Conclusions: The SFA resulted in substantial improvement in the composite outcome measures, as shown by a reduction in pocket depth with minimal gingival recession, gain in CAL, early wound healing, less postoperative discomfort, and better patient-centered outcomes.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.615-622
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• 2014

Oral cancer ablation surgery results in tissue defects with functional loss. Accompanying neck dissection results in facial nerve weakness and dysmorphic changes. To minimize the complications after oral cancer surgery, accurate dissection without damaging facial nerve and vital structures are mandatory. Marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve should be dissected or contained in the superficial layer of deep cervical fascia to minimized facial palsy after operation. Reconstruction after cancer ablations is routine procedures and free flap reconstruction is the most commonly used. Radial forearm free flap is the most versatile flap to reconstruct soft tissue defects and it is easy to design according to the defect size and shape. However, donor site scar and secondary skin graft from thigh result in unesthetic and cumbersome wounds. Double layered collagen graft in the donor site could reduce secondary donor site for skin graft. In conclusion, oral and maxillofacial surgeon should know the exact anatomy of the face and neck during neck dissection. Radial forearm free flap is most versatile flap for soft tissue reconstruction and double collagen graft can reduce postoperative scar and there is no need for secondary skin graft.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2017

Fibular free flap reconstruction is the flap of the choice in long-span mandibular bone reconstruction. The most common disadvantage of the fibular flap is short bone height to install dental implant. Double barrel fibular flap has been tried, however, bulky flap in the oral cavity hinder its use. Titanium reconstruction plate has been used simultaneously with the free fibular flap to stabilize occlusion and to fix the fibular flap. In this study, titanium reconstruction plate was fixed in the lower border of the mandible and the fibular free flap was fixed in the superior border of the titanium plate to improve implant-crown ratio. This new technique improved the longevity of the dental prosthodontics with dental implants.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.490-492
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• 2007

Purpose: Nipple reconstruction is an important step in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. There are considerable number of reconstructive methods developed over the past years. Each of these has not only its own special advantages, but also limitations. Therefore, no single method has become the overwhelming favorite. Sometimes it seems to be compromised when the nipple must be located directly over a linear scar. Methods: A 48-year-old female patient received a central lumpectomy with circumareolar resection of the nipple areolar complex 4 months ago. The newly designed nipple must be positioned directly astride a scar. We drew two equal-sized rectangular flaps sharing a common limb on a transverse scar and the result was two opposing plow form. Each flap size was about 1.3 cm wide and 2.5 cm long. First we elevated the flap from the distal part at a deep dermal plane, then deepened the level of dissection to raise the dermal-fat flaps. The donor site could be closed directly without any dog-ear deformity. Then we folded down the elevated flaps and loosely sutured skin with nonabsorbable materials. Each flap inner side was approximated side by side. Finally we made new natural nipple with 6 mm projection. We applied tattooing in the areola area with micropigmentation device after three months. Results: After ten months of follow-up periods, the nipple projection was stable and symmetric. The nipple projection was 3.1 mm, compared with 2.8 mm for the opposite nipple. Conclusion: Our experiences shows that this double opposing plow flap is a particularly useful and simple technique when there is a traverse scar crossing the center of the proposed nipple area.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.454-458
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• 2010

Velopharyngeal insufficiency is defined as a status in which nasal cavity and oral cavity can not be sepa-rated when speaking, swallowing by any reason. It has been treated by palatorrhaphy, pharyn-geal flap, local flap, free flap etc. When the size of the defect is small, it can be restored by palatorrhaphy, pharyngeal flap etc. But they are not proper for treatment of the large size of defect. In that case, local flap and free flap are more beneficial. Although large defect can be restored by free flap technique, but it is very complex, time-consuming and may bring about esthetical, functional complications of donor site. Buccinator myomucosal flap is a kind of local flap and reported for the first time by Bozola et al in 1989 and it has become a useful way for reconstruction of large intraoral defect. Authors experienced the use of buccinators myomucosal flap for treating secondary velopharyngeal insufficiency with large soft palate defect and obtained good result. So we report the case with literature reviews.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2001

Purpose : The problems of late deterioration of sensation and a double sensibility phenomenon are a known deficiency of the original neurovascular island flap. To eliminate this problems, the authors was performed to assess the results of Thumb-pulp loss reconstruction with a heterodigital neurovascular island Flap Using a Nerve Disconnecting-Reconnecting Technique Material and Methods : Between July. 1987 and November. 2000, we have used a disconnecting-reconnecting technique for heterodigital island flaps in which divided nerve of the transferred island flap is sutured to original nerve of the thumb in 9 patients. 9 patients with a mean follow-up period of 3.6 years were examined, while 7 patients were follow-up for 2years or more. Evaluation of results was based on flap quality, donor site quality, classic two-point sensory discrimination(2PD), and location of sensation(double sensibility), donor site cold intolerance, neuroma formation, scar contractures, total active movement(TAM) of the thumb and donor digit and subjective results and objective results. Results : The two-point discrimination was average 6.7 mm. Donor site paresthesia was observed more frequently in a short postoperative period. Sensation was referred to the thumb in all cases and the recovery occurred over a period of a two months. There were no flap complication or failures and the length of the thumb tip was preserved in all cases. Conclusion : This technique was found to provide well-vascularized pulp of the thumb with proper cortical representation in one operative stage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.748-752
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• 2007

Purpose: The goal of palatoplasty is focused on two points. One is to close the palatal defect completely, and the other to create a velopharyngeal system for normal speech. While established methods such as pushback palatoplasty or double opposing Z palatoplasty are used in wide cleft palate repair, sequelae such as maxillary hypoplasia or oronasal fistula may result. Therefore, when palatoplasty with buccinator myomucosal flap is used in the case of wide cleft palates, maxillary hypoplasia and oronasal fistula is reduced and optimal results are obtained. Methods: From October 2005 to December 2006, four children with wide complete cleft palate underwent unilateral buccinator myomucosal flap and intravelar veloplaty. Mean age at cleft repair was 15 months, and mean cleft size was 2.15 cm. The patients underwent intravelar veloplasty and palatoplasty was done using unilateral buccinator myomucosal flap. Results: The patients, after mean 10 months of follow-up observation, showed no signs of oronasal fistula resulting from flap tension. The shape and color similar to normal oral mucosa was obtained, and velopharyngeal function was acquired. Conclusion: When intravelar veloplasty and palatoplasty with unilateral buccinator myomucosal flap is done on wide cleft palates, postoperative speech function is optimal, velopharyngeal incompetence is effectively corrected, and sequelae resulting from pushback palatoplasty and double opposing Z-plasty, such as maxillary hypoplasia and oronasal fistula, is reduced.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2021

Background: The free flap surgical method is useful for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. This study retrospectively analyzed the results of head and neck reconstructions using various types of free flaps over the past 30 years. Methods: Between 1989 and 2018, a total of 866 free flap procedures were performed on 859 patients with head and neck defects, including 7 double free flaps. The causes of vascular crisis and salvage rate were analyzed, and the total flap survival rate calculated among these patients. Additionally, the survival and complication rates for each flap type were compared. Results: The 866 cases included 557 radial forearm flaps, 200 anterolateral thigh flaps, 39 fibular osteocutaneous flaps, and 70 of various other flaps. The incidence of the vascular crisis was 5.1%; its most common cause was venous thrombosis (52.3%). Salvage surgery was successful in 52.3% of patients, and the total flap survival rate was 97.6%. The success rate of the radial forearm flap was higher than of the anterolateral flap (p< 0.01), and the primary sites of malignancy were the tongue, tonsils, and hypopharynx, respectively. Conclusion: The free flap technique is the most reliable method for head and neck reconstruction; however, the radial forearm free flap showed the highest success rate (98.9%). In patients with malignancy, flap failure was more common in the anterolateral thigh (5.5%) and fibular (5.1%) flaps.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.724-728
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• 2022

Various flaps are used to reconstruct skin and soft tissue defects of the vulva following resection of malignancies. Whenever possible, reconstruction using local flaps is the standard treatment. Here, we describe vulvar defect reconstruction using keystone flaps. Standard keystone flaps are based on randomly located vascular perforators. However, we designed a keystone flap that includes perforators of three named arteries (the anterior labial artery of the external pudendal artery, cutaneous branches of the obturator artery, and posterior labial artery of the internal pudendal artery) and the pudendal nerve, which accompanies the internal pudendal artery. Four patients with squamous cell carcinoma and extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva underwent radical vulvectomy and keystone flaps including perforators of three arteries. Depending on the morphology of the defects, keystone flaps were used with different designs. For elliptical and unilateral vulvar defects, a standard keystone flap was designed, and for defects on both sides of the vulva, a double opposing keystone flap was used. For oval defects, the omega variant keystone flap was designed, and when the morphology of the defect needed rotation of the flap, a rotational keystone flap was designed. All the patients showed good function and sensation, with an acceptable cosmetic appearance.