• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.420-427
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• 2017

Background It can be difficult to select an appropriate flap for various defects on the hand. Although defects of the hand usually must be covered with a skin flap, some defects require a flap with rich blood supply and adequate additive soft tissue volume. The authors present their experience with the anconeus muscle free flap in the reconstruction of various defects and the release of scar contractures of the hand. Methods Ten patients underwent reconstruction of the finger or release of the first web space using the anconeus muscle free flap from May 1998 to October 2013. Adequate bed preparations with thorough debridement or contracture release were performed. The entire anconeus muscle, located at the elbow superficially, was harvested, with the posterior recurrent interosseous artery as a pedicle. The defects were covered with a uniformly trimmed anconeus muscle free flap. Additional debulking of the flap and skin coverage using a split-thickness skin graft were performed 3 weeks after the first operation. Results The average flap size was $18.7cm^2$ (range, $13.5-30cm^2$). All flaps survived without significant complications. Vein grafts for overcoming a short pedicle were necessary in 4 cases. Conclusions The anconeus muscle free flap can be considered a reliable reconstructive option for small defects on the hand or contracture release of the web space, because it has relatively consistent anatomy, provides robust blood supply within the same operative field, and leads to no functional loss at the donor site.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2016

Purpose: In recent decades, amputation is still recommended for patients with extensive lower extremity wounds requiring coverage. Although the feet contribute relatively little to total body surface area, they are essential organ for ambulation, and a high mortality rate after amputation has been reported. We report on 10 challenging cases of a mangled foot which was reconstructed using an anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of this technique. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 10 patients who underwent reconstructive surgery on a foot. Patients' charts were reviewed for age, sex, causes, defect size and site, flap size and type, flap type, and complications. Cases with a defect size of > $100cm^2$ were included. Results: Seven of the 10 patients were male, and overall mean age was 38.5 years (range, 22 to 61 years). Mean defect size was $179.6cm^2$ (range, 104 to $330cm^2$), and mean flap size was $193cm^2$ (range, 120 to $408cm^2$). Three cases were reconstructed with a musculocutaneous free flap and seven cases were reconstructed with a fasciocutaneous free flap. There were two occurrences of local wound complication. All ten flaps survived well, however five patients underwent a debulking procedure to reduce flap volume. Conclusion: Reconstruction of a near completely degloved soft tissue defect or a wide defect containing two or more surfaces of extremity with an ALT free flap was performed. The purpose of this case study is to report on free tissue transfer using the ALT flap for salvage of the lower extremity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.274-278
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• 2023

Ingrown toenails are most common among school-age children and adolescents though they can be observed at any age. Causes of ingrown toenails are increased curvature, trauma, and external pressure. Treatment of ingrown toenails can be broadly characterized as conservative and surgical. Conservative treatment can be performed using various methods, such as a gutter splint, dental floss, and cotton. Surgical treatments may be divided into two main approaches; narrowing of the nail plate and debulking of periungual tissues. However, these various conservative and surgical treatments have high recurrence rates, and thus, the author used a permanent surgical method based on the use of a paronychium flap to treat a 15-year-old male adolescent with excessive periungual tissues and curved ingrown toenails who did not improve despite conservative and several surgical treatments over 4 years. Subsequently, toenail shape was maintained without recurrence 22 months after surgery, and there were no complaints of inflammation or pain while walking. This simple surgical method can be performed on patients with advanced ingrown toenails due to excessive periungual tissues and nail curvature and can be expected to have permanent effects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.367-375
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• 2012

Background The anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap has become a popular option for treating soft tissue defects of lower extremity reconstruction and can be combined with a segment of the vastus lateralis muscle. We present a comparison of the use of the ALT fasciocutaneous (ALT-FC) and myocutaneous flaps. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients in whom free-tissue transfer was performed between 2005 and 2011 for the reconstruction of lower extremity soft-tissue defects. Twenty-four patients were divided into two groups: reconstruction using an ALT-FC flap (12 cases) and reconstruction using a vastus lateralis myocutaneous (VL-MC) flap (12 cases). Postoperative complications, functional results, cosmetic results, and donor-site morbidities were studied. Results Complete flap survival was 100% in both groups. A flap complication was noted in one case (marginal dehiscence) of the ALT-FC group, and no complications were noted in the VL-MC group. In both groups, one case of partial skin graft loss occurred at the donor site, and debulking surgeries were needed for two cases. There were no significant differences in the mean scores for either functional or cosmetic outcomes in either group. Conclusions The VL-MC flap is able to fill occasional dead space and has comparable survival rates to ALT-FC with minimal donor-site morbidity. Additionally, the VL-MC flap is easily elevated without myocutaneous perforator injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.450-454
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• 2008

Purpose: From May 2000 to January 2008, We experienced the 10 cases of the thenar free flap for the coverage of the large volar soft tissue defect in the finger. Methods: The pedicles of the flap were the superficial palmar artery of radial artery and subcutaneous vein, and we anastomosed them to the digital artery and subcutaneous vein of the finger. Results: The average size of the flaps was $12cm^2$ and it was large enough to cover the entire color soft tissue defect of a phalanx or the defect of the neighbored phalanges. All of donor wounds were closed primarily. Conclusion: The color and skin texture of the flap was matched with the volar skin of the finger functionally and cosmetically and the debulking of the flap was not necessary. Other advantages were constant anatomic pedicle of the flap, minimal donor site morbidity, one operation field. We consider that the thenar free flap is another reliable and useful method for the reconstructing of the large volar defect of the finger especially at the situation of emergency.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.571-577
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• 2009

Purpose: The Provision of thin and pliable tissue and the adequate coverage of tendon - gliding surface is necessary for a soft tissue defect of the hand with exposure of bone, tendon and muscle. This report will discuss our experience with anterolateral thigh fascial free flap for the reconstruction of the soft tissue defect of the hand. Methods: Between February 2004 and August 2008, seven patients with full - thickness soft tissue defects of the hand were reconstructed by means of a composite anterolateral thigh fascial free flap. There were soft tissue defects associated with trauma (n=5), scar contracture (n=1) and necrosis due to ischemia (n=1). Flaps were harvested from the anterolateral thigh as adipofascial flaps with only a small sheet of fascia and fatty tissue above it. The fascia and the skin of the donor site was closed directly and delayed split - thickness skin graft was performed. Result: All flaps survived completely. The size of the transferred flap ranged from $2{\times}4cm$ to $5{\times}8cm$. Thin flap coverage was possible without secondary debulking operations. It left minimal donor site morbidity with a linear scar. In one case, the thigh muscle herniation in the donor site was developed. Conclusion: The anterolateral thigh fascial free flap provided thin and pliable tissue which can establish a tendon - gliding mechanism, minimal bulk, minimal donor site morbidity. The disadvantages of this technique were the need for a skin graft and the muscle herniation of donor site.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.605-610
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• 2009

Purpose: Substantial tissue necrosis after snake bites requiring coverage with flap surgery is extremely rare. In this article, we report 7 cases of soft tissue defects in the upper and the lower extremities caused by snake bites, which needed to be covered with flaps. Among the vast mass of publications on snake bites there has been no report that focuses on flap coverage of soft tissue defects due to snake bite sequelae. Methods: Seven cases of soft tissue defects with tendon, ligament, or bone exposure after snake bites were included. All patients were males without comorbidities, the average age was 35 years. All of them required coverage with a flap. In 6 cases, the defect was localized on the upper extremity, in one case the lesion was on the lower extremity. Local flaps were used in 6 cases, one case was covered with a free flap. The surgical procedures included one kite flap, one cross finger flap and digital nerve reconstruction with a sural nerve graft, one reverse proximal phalanx island flap, one groin flap, one adipofascial flap, one neurovascular island flap, and one anterolateral thigh free flap. The average interval from injury to flap surgery was 23.7 days. Results: All flaps survived without complication. All patients regained a good range of motion in the affected extremity. Donor site morbidities were not observed. The case with digital nerve reconstruction recovered a static two point discrimination of 7 mm. The patient with foot reconstruction can wear normal shoes without a debulking procedure. Conclusion: The majority of soft tissue affection after snake bites can be treated conservatively. Some severe cases, however, may require the coverage with flap surgery after radical debridement, especially, if there is exposure of tendon, bone or neurovascular structures. There is no doubt that definite coverage should be performed as soon as possible. But we also want to point out that this principle must not lead to a premature coverage. If the surgeon is not certain that the wound is free of necrotic tissue or remnants of venom, it is better to take enough time to get a proper wound before flap surgery in order to obtain a good functional and cosmetic result.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.14-23
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• 2004

Introduction: The hand and wrist are particularly susceptible to electrical burn. Skin defect with damage or exposure of underlying vital structure requires coverage by skin flap especially in case of the need for late reconstruction. We are reporting 4 cases of electrical burned hand treated by posterior tibial arterial free flap. The commonly used skin flaps such as scapular flap or groin flap are too bulky so that they are not satisfactory in function and cosmetic appearance. So we tried to cover them with a more thin skin flap. Materials and Method: From January 2002 to June 2003, four cases of hand and wrist electrical burn were covered using posterior tibial arterial free flap. All the cases were due to high voltage electrical burn. Age ranged from 31 years to 38 years old and all the cases were male patients. Recipient sites were 2 wrist, one thenar area and one knuckle of 2.3rd MP joint. Additional procedures were flexor tenolysis (simultaneous), FPL tenolysis and digital nerve graft (later) and extensor tendon reconstruction (later). Result: All the flap have survived totally without any complication including circulatory concern about the donar foot. Posterior tibail arterial free flap was so thin that debulking procedure was not required. Conclusion: For skin coverage of the hand & wrist region, posterior tibial arterial free flap have many advantages such as reliable anatomy, easy dissection and easy anastmosis with radial or ulnar artery and possibility of sensory flap. The most helpful advantage for hand coverage is its thinness. So we think this flap is one of the very useful armamentarium for reconstructive hand surgery.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

The aim of extremity reconstruction has focused on early wound coverage and functional recovery but rarely aesthetics. As the quality of life improves, however, the request for aesthetics has been growing. The authors has conducted retrospective reviews on the 86 cases that had extremity reconstruction using free flap, considering the characteristics of parts that had been assessed in primary operation between May 1996 and December 2010. Aesthetic grading was performed in four categories; color, texture, contour and marginal scar. Recipient sites were 42 hands, 19 feet, 14 lower extremities excluding feet and 10 upper extremities apart from the hand. Types of free flap were 16 latissimus dorsi free flaps, 13 anterolateral thigh free flaps, 12 dorsalis pedis free flaps, 8 transvers rectus abdominis free flaps, 7 gracillis free flaps, and 5 superficial temporal fascia free flaps. Total flap necrosis was seen in 8 cases(9.3%) and partial necrosis in 5 cases(5.8%). Secondary revision was done in 24 cases(27.9%) and the most common revision, debulking was done in 14 cases(16.3%). The authors has considered cosmetic aspects along with wound coverage and functional recovery in primary reconstruction. The results of aesthetic grading was 16.2 out of 20, and the secondary revision rate was reduced.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.253-260
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• 2020

목적: 하지, 특히 정강이 앞 부분이나 발, 발목에서의 연부조직 결손은 피복에 어려움이 있다. 저자들은 하지의 개방성 골절 또는 폐쇄적 골절 후 수상부위에 발생한 다양한 연부조직 결손에 대하여 역행성 표재 비복동맥 피판술을 사용하여 피복을 시행한 예들을 수집, 분석하여 그 임상적 결과를 보고하고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 2003년 8월부터 2018년 4월까지 하지의 골절 후 수상 부위에 발생한 연부조직 결손에 대하여 역행성 비복동맥 피판술을 시행받은 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 수술 후 최소 6개월 추시가 가능했던 16명의 환자를 대상으로 하였으며, 평균 추시기간은 18개월이었다. 8예는 개방성, 다른 8예는 폐쇄적 골절 후 발생한 합병증으로 연부조직 결손이 발생했다. 피판의 평균크기는 51.9 cm²였으며, 가장 큰 피판의 크기는 10×15 cm²였다. 결과 분석을 위해 수술 후 피판의 생존 여부와 추가 술식, 합병증 등을 조사하였다. 결과: 최종 추시 시 이식 피판은 모두 생존하였으며, 공여부에 별다른 합병증도 발생하지 않았다. 수술 후 단기 추시 당시 1예에서 경계부의 부분 괴사 소견이 발견되었으나 변연절제술과 1차 봉합을 통해 회복되었다. 다른 1예에서는 혈종이 발생하여 추가로 혈종제거술을 시행하였으며, 추시기간 내 피판은 성공적으로 생존하였다. 이식부의 미용적 목적으로 피판 축소수술이 3예에서 시행되었고, 피판부를 절개하고 접근하여 내고정물을 제거하거나 추가적 내고정술을 시행한 건이 3예였었다. 결론: 역행성 표재 비복동맥 피판술은 하지 골절과 동반된 연부조직 결손의 치료에 있어 적극적 적용을 고려할 만한 유용한 술기의 하나가 될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.