• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.330-335
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional outcome and donor site morbidity of anterolateral thigh free flap(ALT) compared to Radial forearm free flap(RFFF) for the reconstruction of partial glossectomy defect. Methods: 5 ALT free flap (group I) were attempted for partial glossectomy patients. We compared patients undergone ALT flap with those(n=11) of similar size defect reconstructed with RFFF (Group II). Rating scales for articulation and swallowing function were applied and donor site morbidity have been evaluated. Results: The scales for speech function showed no difference between the two groups (average score; group I - 6.4, group II - 6.45). Swallowing function also showed no difference between the two groups(average score; Group I - 6.6, Group II - 6.27). ALT group had one patient with donor site morbidity(numbness). All of the RFFF patients(11/11) complained and suffered from hypertrophic scar, retraction, numbness or hyperpigmentation on forearm donor site. Based on our study, ALT free flap is comparable to that of RFFF in terms of functional assessment in tongue reconstruction. Conclusion: Considering the donor site morbidity, ALT flap is to be valuable to reconstruct partial glossectomy defect.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2011

Reconstruction following a resection of malignant oral cavity tumors is one of the most difficult problems in recent oral oncology. The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is a thin, pliable soft tissue flap with large-caliber vessels for microvascular anastomosis. Its additional advantages include consistent flap vascular anatomy, acceptable donor site morbidity and the ability to perform simultaneous flap harvest with a tumor resection. For a better understanding of RFFF as a routine reconstructive procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery, the constant anatomical findings must be learned and memorized by young doctors during the special curriculum periods for the Korean national board of oral and maxillofacial surgery. This review article discusses the anatomical basis of RFFF in the Korean language.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.216-220
• /
• 2001

There are many approaches in surgery of posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer according to location, extent, and invasion depth of primary cancer. And many reconstruction methods have been used in reconstruction of surgical defect remaining after wide resection of primary cancer. Posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer is relatively rare, so its surgical experiences are fewer than those of pyriform sinus cancer and there have been few reports of surgical approaches and reconstruction methods of posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer. Recently, we experienced a case of posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer reconstructed with longus colli flap and skin graft after failure of radial forearm free flap in a 72-year -old man and report it with the review of the literatures.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제39권
• /
• pp.14.1-14.4
• /
• 2017

Tissue defect reconstruction using radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is a common surgical technique whose success or failure is mainly dependent on venous drainage. RFFF has two major venous outflow systems, superficial and deep vein. Drainage methods include combining both systems or using one alone. This review aims to recapitulate the vascular anatomy and network of RFFF as well as shed light on deep vein as a reliable venous drainage system. We also discuss basic evidence for and advantages of single microanastomosis with coalesced vein to overcome technical difficulties associated with the deep vein system.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2003

Background and Objectives: Surgical ablation of tumors in the oral cavity and the oropharynx results in a three dimensional defect because of the needs to resect the adjacent area for the surgical margin. Although a variety of techniques are available, radial forearm free flap has been known as an effective method for this defect, which offers a thin, pliable, and relatively hairless skin and a long vascular pedicle. We report the clinical results of our 54 consecutive radial forearm free flaps used for oral cavity and oropharynx cancers. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who were offered intraoral reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap after ablative surgery for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers from August 1994 to February 2003 and analyzed surgical methods, flap survival rate, complication, and functional results. Among these, 20 cases were examined with modified barium swallow to evaluate postoperative swallowing function and other 8 cases with articulation and resonance test for speech. We examined recovery of sensation with two-point discrimination test in 15 cases who were offered sensate flaps. Results: The primary sites were as follows : mobile tongue (18), tonsil (17), floor of mouth (4), base of tongue (2), soft palate (2), retromolar trigone (3), buccal mucosa (1), oro-hypopharynx (6), and lower lip (1). The paddles of flaps were tailored in multilobed designs from oval shape to tetralobed design and in variable size according to the defects after ablation. This procedures resulted in satisfactory flap success rate (96.3%) and showed good swallowing function and social speech. Eight of 15 cases (53.3%) who had offered sensate flap showed recovery of sensation between 1 and 6 postoperative months (average 2.6 month). Conclusion: The reconstruction with radial forearm free flap might be an excellent method for the maximal functional results after ablative surgery of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers that results in multidimensional defect.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 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.

• 대한기관식도과학회지
• /
• 제5권2호
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 1999

Background and Objective : Soft palate plays a great role in function of speech and swallowing. Ablation of tonsil cancer results in multi-demensional defect including soft palate in most cases and restoration of the postoperative oral cavity function is a continuing surgical challenge. Although a variety of techniques are available, radial forearm free flap has been known as an effective method for these defect, which offers a thin, pliable, and relatively hairless skin, and a long vascular pedicle. The aim of the present study is to report the speech and swallowing function test results of our 5 consecutive radial forearm free flaps used for tonsil cancers. Materials and Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 5 patients who were offered intraoral reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap after ablative surgery for tonsil cancers, from Dec. 1997 to Oct. 1998, and analyzed the surgical methods, complications, and speech and swallowing function test results. We have examined with modified barium swallow to evaluate postoperative wallowing function and articulation and resonance test for speech. Results : The tumor sizes by TNM stage(AJCC, 1997) were T1(1), T2(2), and T4(3). The paddles of flaps were tailored in multilobed designs from oval shape to pentalobed design and in variable size from 24$cm^2$ to 108$cm^2$(average size = 78.4$cm^2$), according to the defect after ablation. This procedures resulted in satisfactory flap success and functional results all but 1 case of flap contracture in 2 postoperative week, achieved early oral diet until 16-57 postoperative day(average, 28 days) and social speech. The oropharyngeal defect including soft palate reconstruction with radial forearm free flap might be an excellent method for the maximal functional results, after ablative surgery of tonsil cancer that results in multidimensional defect.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2005

Wide vertical hemilaryngopharyngectomy with immediate glottic and pharyngeal reconstruction using a radial forearm free flap is reported in 1991 by Chantrain et al. This procedure was designed for the preservation of healthy hemilarynx and resection of pharynx with safe oncological margin in especially piriform sinus cancer or supraglottic cancer invading the hypopharynx. In the original paper, they used palmaris longus tendon for reconstruction of neoglottis. In other groups, they used rib cartilage instead of palmaris longus tendon. In this paper, we report two cases of piriform sinus cancer patients who treated with wide vertical hemilaryngectomy with radial forearm free flap reconstruction. In one case, the operation was performed as Chantrain et al described. But in another case, the ipsilateral forearm was impossible due to the positive Allen's test. So the contralateral forearm flap and rib cartilage graft was done. This reconstructive technique make large resection possible. As the dissection of thyroid cartilage and lateral displacement makes direct visualization and manipulation of piriform sinus lesions, sufficient resection margin in lateral and inferior pharyngeal wall cab be obtained.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.164-169
• /
• 2003

Background and Objectives: The reconstruction is very important in Head and neck cancer surgery to repair the defect created by resection of tumors, to enable successful wound healing, to restore function and to provide acceptable cosmesis. The radial forearm free flap has been the most useful reconstructive flap because it provides a moderate amount of thin, pliable, relatively hairless skin and comparatively simple to do with minimal morbidity. The aims of this study is to estimate the outcome of the reconstruction with radial forearm free flap with the several factors in 140 head and neck cancer cases in our hospital for last 10 years. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of the records of 140 patients underwent resection of the head and neck tumors and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap from 1993 to 2003. The age, sex of the patients, Primary site, the complication of donor and recipient site, flap survival rate, median time to start diet, patient subjective symtoms about swallowing and articulating and the fact of revision reconstructive surgery were analyzed. Results: In primary pathologic site, 56 cases were oral cavity cancers, 44 cases, oropharyngeal cancers and 22 cases, hypopharyngeal cancers. Flap survival rate was 93.6% (13 leases). On donor site, wound dehiscence, hematoma, sensory change and infection were noted and on recipient site, most common complication were fistula and wound dehiscence. The complication rate of recipient's site was 19.1 % and donor site, 3.5%. In 118 cases (84.3%), the patients could take all kinds of food. Swallowing difficulty were noted in 22 cases 05.7%). In 5 cases, there was articulation difficulty but most of patients except patients having total laryngectomy (18 cases) couldn't have any difficulty in articulation and speaking. Conclusion: We conclude that the radial forearm free flap is the most appropriate reconstructive material for treating the defect in head and neck reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• 제8권2호
• /
• pp.154-162
• /
• 1999

저자들은 1990년 12월부터 1999년 2월까지 48례의 경우에서 하인두에 발생한 악성종양을 광범위 절제한 후 유리피판 또는 근피판을 이용하여 재건하였다. 39례에서 유리공장 피판, 5례에서 유리전박 피판을 tubing 형태로 사용했으며, 2례에서는 유리전박 피판을 patch 형태로 사용하였고, 2례에서는 대흉근 근피판을 이용하여 경부식도를 재건하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 1. 하인두의 악성종양이 고령의 나이에 발생한다는 사실을 감안했을 때 유리전박 피판에 비해 급양공장루를 통해 조기에 영양섭취가 손쉬운 유리공장 피판이 환자의 상태를 정상으로 회복시키는데 장점이 있었다. 2. 술후 가장 흔한 합병증인 누공의 발생은 문합을 제대로 시행했을 경우 우려할 필요 없으며, 따라서 술후에 시행하는 식도조영검사는 누공의 증상이 있는 경우에만 선별적으로 실시해야 할 것이다. 3. 문합부 내경의 협착이 우려될 때는 직경이 큰 비강영양튜부(nasogastric tube)를 조기에 삽입하여 극단적인 협착을 감소시키고, 영양섭취 경로를 확보해야 한다. 4. 문합부 협착을 예방하기 위해 상하부 문합부 모두를 파형으로 도안하여 피판을 문합 봉합해야 하며, 협착이 의심스러울 때는 내시경검사를 시행하여 확진해야 한다. 5. 혈관문합은 유리전박 피판을 시행하는 경우에 있어서 수월하였으며, 유리공장 피판을 시행할 때는 술전에 정맥이식을 고려해야 한다.