• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2011

Purpose: Gracilis muscle free flap transplantation is chosen in the medium sized soft tissue defect and bone exposure from trauma and chronic osteomyelitis in the lower extremity. We set a study to search for gracilis free flaps to know whether symptoms were cured or recurred in patients that have passed over 10 years from flap transplantation. Materials and Methods: From August 1995 through September 2010, we have performed 28 cases of gracilis muscle free flap in the lower extremities. Ever since no case visited to demand any discomfort, breakdown or recurrence in the flap site on outpatient basis. We made a telephone call to patients or relatives documented in the medical record and only 2 cases visited outpatient department and 9 cases postponed the visit who satisfied with the final result but 17 cases had wrong telephone numbers. Causes, area of lower extremity, recipient vessels in the lower extremity, condition of the donor thigh and overall satisfaction of the flap transplantation in activities of daily living were investigated and written down in the medical record. Results: 11 cases were reviewed after average postoperative 13.7 years. Gracilis muscle flaps were not break down at the recipient site in all cases. The wound of donor thigh wound healed good and overall activities of daily living was satisfied in all cases. Conclusion: Gracilis muscle flaps which had performed and followed up average 13.7 years revealed confident in the medium sized soft tissue defect and bone exposure from trauma and chronic osteomyelitis in the lower extremity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

Free flap transplantation demands meticulous microsurgical technique to cover the exposed vital structures which is important to restore and maintain functions of the extremities. From July 1992 through December 2000, 99 patients were received reconstructive microsurgery in the upper and lower extremity at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. The most common cause in the upper extremity was industrial accident, 8 cases of total 15 cases and in the lower extremity was traffic accident, 66 cases of total 84 cases. The most commonly involved site was thumb and finger, 8 cases of total 15 cases and in the lower extremity was leg, 65 cases of total 84 cases. In upper extremity, the wrap around free flap was carried out in 4 cases(4.0%), first dorsal metatarsal artery flap and lateral arm flap were 3 cases(3.0%) each in 15 cases and in lower extremity, latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap were 23 cases(23.2%), gracilis 20cases(20.2%), and rectus abdominis muscle flap 18(18.2%) in 84 cases. Overall 89 cases(89.9%) of 99 cases were survived and maintained and revealed good cosmetic results.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2000

Acute high speed accidents that results in full thickness skin defect and exposure of tendon, nerve, vessel and periosteum over denuded bone demands soft tissue coverage. Exposed bone often ensues chronic infection and requires free flap transplantation which surely covers defects in one stage operation and enhances transport of oxygen-rich blood and converts a non-osteogenic or partially osteogenic site into a highly osteogenic site, but exposed bone which had performed free flap transplantation sometimes necroses and needs secondary bone procedure. Scar contracture limits joint motion should be excised and covered with normal soft tissue to restore normal range of motion. Authors have performed the large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap in 8 cases of extensive soft tissue defect and exposed bone lesion in the leg and 1 case of the flap was failed. The secondary ilizarov bone procedure was performed in 3 of 8 cases. 2 cases of large burn scar contracture and 1 case of posttraumatic scar contracture in lower extremity were restored with the large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap. Authors concluded that large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap is the most acceptable microvascular procedure in large soft tissue defect combined with exposed periosteum and bone requiring secondary bone procedure and in large burn scar contracture limiting knee joint motion.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the results of anterolateral thigh perforator free flap for reconstruction of foot and ankle in old diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Fifteen diabetic foot ulcer patients over the age of 55 were operated with anterolateral thigh perforator free flap. Hematological, hemodynamic, diabetic, bacteriologic and radiologic tests were checked with examination of blood vessel state in both the donor site and the recipient site. After surgery, serial check-up was performed at 6 week, 6 month, and 1 year postoperatively on the survival of transplantation tissue, condition of foot, and condition of walking. Results: There are one case of transplantation failure and four cases of partial tissue-necrosis. Delayed wound-healing was observed both recipient and donor tissue sites. At the final follow up, three cases of small ulcer were found at junction of flap and recipient tissue in plantar area. Fourteen out of fifteen patients could walk without any brace or walking aids. Conclusion: Reconstruction of foot and ankle region in old diabetic patients with the anterolateral thigh perforator free flap is a useful method which can prevent the amputation of foot and ankle.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1997

The aims of free tissue transplantation to the injured foot are to cover the exposed blood vessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and bones, to clear up infection, to lessen the morbidity, to shorten the hospitalization, and to prepare for further surgical procedures when no local or transpositioning flaps are available. Authors have carried out free flap transplantation in 13 cases of crushing injury, osteomyelitis and electrical burn in the foot at Chonbuk National University Hospital from June 1992 through May 1996. The results were as follows : 1. 9 cases of 13 (69%) were sustained from the traffic accident. 2. The dorsalis pedis free flap transplantation has been performed most frequently in 5 cases (38.5%), followed gracilis muscle flap in 4 cases(30.7%), rectus abdominis muscle flap in 2 cases(15.4%), latissimus dorsi muscle flap and upper arm flap in 1 each. 3. 6 muscle flaps were covered with split thickness skin graft 20 days after microsurgical anastomosis. 4. All of 13 cases were survived after microsurgical procedure and showed excellent coverage in the foot.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2000

Recommendable reconstructive surgery in the patient with thumb amputation through base of the first metacarpal bone is pollicization. Some patients who do not agree with harvest sound finger as a new thumb, we can consider other options as toe transplantation or osteoplastic thumb reconstruction for creating thumb. Toe transplantation to the thumb is effective procedure in the amputation of distal to metacarpal shaft, it is rarely indicated in the cases of proximal to base of the first metacarpal bone. We performed three cases of modified osteoplastic thumb reconstruction with free vascularized rib that combined with scapular free flap or radial forearm flap. The length of transplanted rib ranged from 7~11cm, the donor vessels are posterior intercostal artery and vein which anastomosed to radial artery. The grafted rib wrapped with additional free flap for creating new thumb. Result of that procedure was not much encouraging, aesthetic appearance and mobility of thumb were not so satisfactory but reconstructed thumb gave improvement of the hand function without sacrificing toe or other digit. That gave reasonable stability for powerful side pinch and three pod pinch and opposable thumb with normal carpo-metacarpal joint motion that can give much function to the thumb absent hand. In spite of those disadvantages, thumb reconstruction with rib transfer can be useful for patients who do not want to lose another part of the body for creating thumb in basal amputation of the thumb metacarpal.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 1993

Free tissue transplantation is commonly performed with the brilliant achievement in microsurgery and anticoagulants and antithrombotic agents have been prescribed in the procedures. However, there is no clean-cut indication as to which agents would be more effective in every steps and final consequences. Low molecular weight heparins inhibiting coagulation in plateletrich plasma and acting on the vascular endothelium have antithrombotic and fibrinolysis action. The experiment with rat groin free flap transplantation after 6-hour ischemia and injection of the low molecular weight heparin was performed and the results between the injection and non-injection group were analysed as follows, 1. Both of the 24-hour groups, vessel patency was not proportional to color change of the groin flap. 2. On the second day after anastomois, heparin-injection group showed intact intima, patent lumen without thrombus, and mild granulomatous inflammation around the suture material and control group with doubtful patency revealed intimal loss and thrombus formation. 3. On the 5th, 7th, and 9th postoperative day, heparin group was patent in anastomosis and showed acute inflammatory cells. 4. The 7th-week period, heparin-injection group showed intact flap color, patent lumen with intact intima and persistent foreign body granuloma.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2018

Chronic lymphedema is caused by an impairment of the lymphatic system due to primary or secondary causes. Vascularized lymph node transplantation (VLNT) is currently the most promising and frequently used technique besides lymphaticovenous anastomosis. However, the vessel anatomy in the lateral thoracic region is sometimes quite variable. Based on our experiences with vascular anatomical inconstancy in the lateral thoracic region, we planned a lateral intercostal artery perforator flap for VLNT in a female patient with chronic stage II lymphedema of both legs after cervical cancer treatment. After surgery, the patient reported significant improvement in limb volume and the accompanying symptoms. The limb circumference was reduced by an average of 19.2% at 6 months postoperatively. Despite having a short pedicle and small vessel caliber, the lateral intercostal artery perforator flap can safely be used for VLNT in lymphedema patients with anatomical variants.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the result of muscle free flap transplantation in chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia and calcaneus occurred from open fractures and exposed bones and internal fixatives. Materials and Methods: The free muscle flap were transferred in the tibia and calcaneus and followed up average 7.3 years at the department of orthopedic surgery from March 1997 to September 2009. Six patients were male and 1 case female averaged 50.3 years of age. Two latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flaps were transplanted to the exposed 2/3 of the tibia with soft tissue defect, one rectus abdominis muscle free flap to the mid 1/3 of the tibia and four gracilis muscle free flaps to the distal 1/3 of the tibia and calcaneus. Results: At average 7.2 years follow-up, all of the 7 cases obtained solid bone union in the X-ray and kept sound soft tissues without pus discharges. The overall result of bone union, healed soft tissues defect and normal knee and ankle joint range of motion were excellent. Conclusion: The free muscle flap transferred to the chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia and calcaneus showed excellent results in bone union and eradication of the pus forming bacteria by its abundant blood flow.