• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2003

Fournier's gangrene is a synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal, perirectal and urogenital area and can be fatal unless treated in early stage. Perianal and urogenital infections are common causes of the disease but it can occur after artificial procedure on perineal area using by surgical instruments. It is mixed aerobic and anaerobic infection and E. coli is the most common causative bacteria. Untill now many investigators have focused on early diagnosis, preserving hemodynamic stability, broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics and treatment of underlying disease in management of Fournier's gangrene. The authors have experienced five patients of chronic liver disease whose necrotizing perineal infections developed spontaneously and treated them aggressively as described above and reconstructed perineal soft tissue defects using by various surgical methods, then we got good results both functionary and cosmetically. From now on, we would better reconstruct soft tissue defect of perineum with skin graft or pedicled flap in early stage when treat Fournier's gangrene, thereafter we can get an ultimate increase in patient's life quality.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.453-456
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• 2022

When the scrotal sac is entirely debrided following a Fournier gangrene, testes exposure poses unique challenges for the reconstructive surgeon. Despite the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is considered a workhorse in such context, aesthetic results are often suboptimal because of the lack of natural ptosis and patchwork appearance. We describe the use of a super-thin pedicled ALT flap for total scrotal reconstruction, modified according to a peculiar flap design and inset technique. A 42-year-old man was referred to our department for delayed total scrotal reconstruction 8 months after a Fournier gangrene extensive debridement. A super-thin pedicled ALT flap from the right thigh was designed: in the central portion of the ALT, a lateral skin paddle extension was marked to guarantee adequate posterior anchorage during insetting and ptosis of the scrotal sac. This particular flap arrangement has inspired the name "sombrero" as the shape is akin to the famous hat. No secondary refinements were needed, and the patient showed satisfying aesthetic and functional results at 12 months' follow-up. The ALT flap design "sombrero" modification proposed in this article can improve scrotum cosmesis and patient satisfaction in a single-stage single-flap procedure.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.667-670
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• 2010

Purpose: The management of urethral defect represents one of the most challenging clinical problems in uroplastic surgery. Especially for defect after Fournier's Gangrene, optimal management is still a hard problem. During extensive urethral reconstruction, to overcome the poor vascularity due to periurethral scarred tissue and limitation of the choice of local flap, we report our experience with one-stage reconstruction of urethral defect using a longitudinal tubed flap of scrotal skin. Methods: A 72-year-old man with several years of diabetes mellitus history visited for swelling and pain of scrotal area. After diagnosis of Fournier's Gangrene, radical debridement was performed and 6 cm of urethral defect on border of penile-scrotal ventral area was made. Rectangular scrotal skin flap ($6{\times}2.5\;cm$) based on external spermatic fascia was elevated and tubed longitudinally. After transfer the flap to the defect area, end-to-end anastomosis was performed bilaterally. Results: 4 weeks after the operation, the patient started voiding him-self and urethrography showed good fluence of contrast agent. Long term evaluation reveals stable performance characteristics without any complications. Conclusion: We suggest a one-stage reconstruction of extensive urethral defect using a longitudinal tubed flap of scrotal skin. Advantages of this procedures are simple, one-stage reconstruction with the reliable scrotal skin flap based on external spermatic fascial vasculature, and no donor morbidity.

• Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research
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• 제95권6호
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• pp.324-332
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• 2018

Purpose: We present our experience involving the management of this disease, identifying prognostic factors affecting treatment outcomes. Methods: The patients treated for Fournier gangrene at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included demographics, extent of soft tissue necrosis, predisposing factors, etiological factors, laboratory values, and treatment outcomes. The severity index and score were calculated. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the association between potential predictors and clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 41 patients (male:female = 33:8) were studied. The mean age was 54.4 years (range, 24-79 years). The most common predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus (n = 19, 46.3%). Sixteen patients (39.0%) were current smokers. Seven patients had chronic kidney disease. The most frequent etiology was urogenital lesion (41.5%). The mortality rate was 22.0% (n = 9). Multivariate regression analyses showed that extension of necrosis beyond perineal/inguinal area and pre-existing chronic kidney disease were significant and independent predictors of mortality. Extension of necrosis beyond perineal/inguinal area was a significant predictor of increased duration in the intensive care unit and hospital stay. In addition, pre-existing chronic kidney disease was a significant predictor of flap reconstruction in the wound. Conclusion: Fournier gangrene with extensive soft tissue necrosis and pre-existing chronic kidney disease was associated with poor prognosis and complexity of patient management. Early recognition of dissemination and premorbid renal function is essential to reduce mortality and establish a management plan for this disease.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.496-500
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• 2023

Fournier's gangrene is a life-threatening infection which requires prompt recognition, early surgical debridement of unhealthy tissue, and initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Relook debridement are usually performed until all the devitalized tissue has been removed. Involvement of the anal sphincter may result in significant morbidity such as permanent incontinence. Dynamic reconstruction of the anal sphincter has always been one of the holy grails in the field of pelvic reconstruction. We demonstrate a new method of camera shutter style double-opposing gracilis muscle flaps that allows dynamic sphincteric function without the need for electrostimulation. The bilateral gracilis muscles are inset in a fashion that allows orthograde contraction of the muscle to narrow and collapse the neoanal opening. With biofeedback training, the patient is able to regain dynamic continence and return to function without a stoma. There was also no need for neurotization or microsurgery techniques to restore sphincteric function to the anus. The patient was able to reverse his stoma 14 months after the initial insult and reconstruction with biofeedback training without the use of electrostimulation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.610-614
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• 2023

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon yet fatal soft tissue infection. Current recommended treatment includes antibiotics with repeat surgical exploration and wound debridement followed by reconstruction. In burn patients, the Meek micrograft has demonstrated a higher true expansion ratio, faster reepithelialization rate, more resilient toward infection, and reduced risk of graft failure as compared with meshed graft. To our best knowledge, the use of Meek micrografting technique in reconstruction of postdebridement wounds of necrotizing fasciitis has not been reported. Hereby, we present a case of a 57-year-old gentleman who was referred to us for wound reconstruction after surgical debridement of Fournier's gangrene and extensive necrotizing fasciitis involving the anterior abdomen and bilateral femoral region. Meek micrografting technique was used to reconstruct the anterior abdomen as the wound bed was large. Although the graft was complicated with a small area of localized infection, it did not spread across the entire graft and was successfully treated with topical antibiotics and regular wound dressing. In our case, wound reconstruction using Meek micrografting technique in a patient with extensive necrotizing fasciitis was successful and showed positive outcome. Therefore, we suggest further studies to be conducted to investigate the applications and outcomes of the Meek micrografting technique, especially in patients with extensive wound bed and limited donor site availability.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.565-570
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• 2009

Purpose: Numerous techniques have been introduced to reconstruct the perineal area in order to preserve function of both the recipient and the donor site while satisfying aesthetic results. There are several advantages of using the pudendal aretery perforator based flap in that it provides thin coverage of defect area and a relatively excellent circulation through perforators. The perineal region can be divided into two areas : the urogenital triangle and the anal triangle. Since each area differs in structure and function so does its reconstructive plan. The authors of this article report clinical results obtained from pudendal artery perforator based reconstructed cases according to each differrent triangles. Methods: A total of 15 patients who underwent perineal reconstruction were enrolled in our study between the year 2002 and 2006. There were 4 cases of vaginal cancer, 4 cases of extramammary Paget's disease, 1 case of rectovaginal fistula in females and 2 cases of Paget's disease and 4 cases of Fournier's gangrene in male cases. The follow up period was on average 6 month. In female, superfical pudendal artery perforator based local flap were used to reconstruct the urogenital triangle defects, while internal pudendal artery perfoator based local flaps were used to reconstruct the anal traingle defects. In males the gracilis myocutaneous flap and internal pudendal artery perforator based local flaps were used in reconstruction of the scrotum and perineal defect. Result: In females, there was 1 case of partial flap necorsis that employed the superficial pudendal artery perforator but secondary repair through the internal pudendal artery perforator based local flap was done. In addition, there were 4 wound dehiscence cases in females and 2 cases in males. Conclusion: We believe that a better aesthetic and functional outcome can be achieved in perineal reconstruction if discrete surgical planning is carried out systematically categorizing the choice of flap employed acccording to distinct anatomical regions : the urogenital and the anal triangle.

• 대한화상학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.66-70
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• 2019

Purpose: The necrotizing fasciitis is a terrifying infectious disease that can rapidly spreads to surrounding tissues when fascia is infected and it can cause sepsis to death if not properly diagnosed and treated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics, causes, and treatment methods of necrotizing fasciitis in Korea through reviewing patients admitted to our burn center. Methods: 21 patients with necrotizing fasciitis were selected for this study among those inpatients with electronic medical records (EMR) admitted to Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Medical Center from Jan 1, 2008 to June 30, 2019. The medical records and wound photos of those 21 selected subjects were reviewed. Results: There were 13 male and 8 female patients and mean age was 58.76 years old. 13 of 21 subjects were survived and 8 died (38% mortality rate). The surgical treatments performed were I&D, fasciotomy, debridement, allograft, burring, STSG, flap, and amputation. The most common causes were burns in 9 subjects (6 contact burns) and cellulitis occurred on skins in 5 subjects. And other various causes were observed as fournier's gangrene, stab wound, intramuscular injection, tumor and bleu toe syndrome (toe necrosis). The infected areas were 11 feet and legs, 7 hips, 3 abdomen and trunk in 21 subjects. Of the 8 deaths, 3 were infected in feet and legs, 2 were infected in hips, and 2 were infected in abdomen and trunk. As for underlying diseases, 12 patients with hypertension or diabetes were the highest and others such as cancer and stroke were found. Conclusion: The only method to increase the survival rate is to 'suspect' the disease as much as possible and perform early extensive excision. It is advisable to treat the disease by the burn center to properly provide adequate and optimal wound management, infection control, medical care and nutritional supports.