• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.729-739
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• 2022

Cranioplasties are common procedures in plastic surgery. The use of tissue expansion (TE) in staged cranioplasties is less common. We present two cases of cranioplasties with TE and systematically review literature describing the use of TE in staged cranioplasties and postoperative outcomes. A systematic review was performed by querying multiple databases. Eligible articles include published case series, retrospective reviews, and systematic reviews that described use of TE for staged bony cranioplasty. Data regarding study size, patient demographics, preoperative characteristics, staged procedure characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Of 755 identified publications, 26 met inclusion criteria. 85 patients underwent a staged cranioplasty with TE. Average defect size was 122 cm², and 30.9% of patients received a previous reconstruction. Average expansion period was 14.2 weeks. The most common soft tissue closures were performed with skin expansion only (75.3%), free/pedicled flap (20.1%), and skin graft (4.7%). The mean postoperative follow-up time was 23.9 months. Overall infection and local complication rates were 3.53 and 9.41%, respectively. The most common complications were cerebrospinal fluid leak (7.1%), hematoma (7.1%), implant exposure (3.5%), and infection (3.5%). Factors associated with higher complication rates include the following: use of alloplastic calvarial implants and defects of congenital etiology (p = 0.023 and 0.035, respectively). This is the first comprehensive review to describe current practices and outcomes in staged cranioplasty with TE. Adequate soft tissue coverage contributes to successful cranioplasties and TE can play a safe and effective role in selected cases.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.640-646
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• 2023

Objective: Prospective studies on postoperative residual breast tissue (RBT) after robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy (R-NSM) for breast cancer are limited. RBT presents an unknown risk of local recurrence or the development of new cancer after curative or risk-reducing mastectomies. This study investigated the technical feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate RBT after R-NSM in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this prospective pilot study, 105 patients, who underwent R-NSM for breast cancer at Changhua Christian Hospital between March 2017 and May 2022, were subjected to postoperative breast MRI to evaluate the presence and location of RBT. The postoperative MRI scans of 43 patients (age, 47.8 ± 8.5 years), with existing preoperative MRI scans, were evaluated for the presence and location of RBT. In total, 54 R-NSM procedures were performed. In parallel, we reviewed the literature on RBT after nipple-sparing mastectomy, considering its prevalence. Results: RBT was detected in 7 (13.0%) of the 54 mastectomies (6 of the 48 therapeutic mastectomies and 1 of the 6 prophylactic mastectomies). The most common location for RBT was behind the nipple-areolar complex (5 of 7 [71.4%]). Another RBT was found in the upper inner quadrant (2 of 7 [28.6%]). Among the six patients who underwent RBT after therapeutic mastectomies, one patient developed a local recurrence of the skin flap. The other five patients with RBT after therapeutic mastectomies remained disease-free. Conclusion: R-NSM, a surgical innovation, does not seem to increase the prevalence of RBT, and breast MRI showed feasibility as a noninvasive imaging tool for evaluating the presence and location of RBT.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.138-141
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• 2006

Introduction : In recent years, vascularized, i.e., living bone grafts, have been widely applied in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, as a method of treatment of congenital or acquired non-unions, and a large defects in mandible. The vascularized fibular graft has been especially used for this purpose because of its shape and mechanical strength. The postoperative hypertrophy of grafted fibula is of particular interest to us. Material and methods : This study was undertaken to determine the volume change(indirect methods) and radiographic appearance of a free vascularized fibular graft as it responds to the mechanical and physiologic features of its new environment. In order to elucidate the long term effect on fibular mass after mandibular reconstruction, change in various method of volume change was utilized as indirect measure of change in long-term. Results : The younger the patient, the more prominent and rapid the hypertrophy of the graft. the hypertrophy of the graft never exceeded the diameter of the recipient bone, except for callus enlargement after stress fracture of the grafted bone. Conclusion : Etiologic explanations for this phenomenon have not been clarified in the previeous literature. some of the factors implicated include a periosteal reaction or new bone formation, as seen at the onset of bone union after a fracture in a child, a reaction to the mechanical loading on the graft and a reaction to the circulatory changes resulting from the grafting procedure.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.284-293
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• 2013

Purpose: For reconstruction of craniomaxillofacial defects caused by tumor, trauma, infection etc, free flap transplantation with microvascular surgery is a very useful method. Thrombus formation at the anastomosis site is the major cause of graft failure. 4-Hexylresorcinol (4-HR) is generally known as an antiseptic and antiparasitic agent. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of 4-HR on blood coagulation in vitro. In addition, we investigated thrombus formation and endothelial repair of an injured vessel in an animal model. Methods: In the in vitro experiment, we compared blood coagulation time between the 4-HR treated group and normal blood. Thirty rats were used for in vivo animal experiments. After exposure of the right femoral vein, a micro vessel clamp was placed and the femoral vein was intentionally cut. Microvascular anastomosis was performed on all rats using 10-0 nylon under microscopy. The animals were divided into two groups. In the experimental group (n=15), 4-HR (250 mg/kg) mixed with olive oil (10 mL/kg) was administered per os daily. Animals in the control group (n=15) were given olive oil only. The animals were sacrificed at three days, seven days, and fourteen days after surgery and rat femoral vein samples were taken. Vascular patency and thrombus formation were investigated just before sacrifice. Histologic analysis was performed under a microscope. Results: Results of an in vitro blood coagulation test showed that coagulation time was delayed in the 4-HR treated group. The results obtained from an in vivo 4-HR administered rat model showed that the patency of all experimental groups was better at thirty minutes, seven days, and fourteen days after microvascular anastomosis than that of the control group at seven and fourteen days after anastomosis, and the amount of thrombus in the experimental groups was much less than that of the control group. Endothelial repair was observed in the histologic analysis. Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated that blood coagulation was delayed in the vitro 4-HR treated group. In addition, good vascular patency, anti-thrombotic effect, and repair of venous endothelial cells were observed in the vivo 4-HR administered rat group.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.261-266
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• 2008

Purpose: The incidence of skin cancer is increasing throughout the world including Asian countries such as Korea. Still there are only limited reports of the clinical features of skin cancer in Korea, especially in the fields of plastic surgery. This study is to demonstrate the recent clinical trends of skin cancer and the treatment of skin cancer in Korea by analyzing a single institution's experience. Methods: During a 11-year period, 370 patients visited our department for the excision of skin cancer. Data of the patients such as histopathologic diagnosis, primary site of the tumor, age and sex of the patient, operative methods were reviewed retrospectively. Results: We had 370 patients, 215 men and 155 women. The ages ranged from 10 to 95 years with a mean of 58.8 years. A total of 143 patients were diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma, while 100 were malignant melanoma, 80 were squamous cell carcinoma, 17 were dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and 30 were other miscellaneous skin cancers. Local flaps were the most frequently used reconstructive method after wide excision of the cancer, which was followed by primary closure, split-thickness skin graft, free flap and full-thickness skin graft. Conclusion: There was a gradual increase in the incidence of skin cancer after the year 2000. Basal cell carcinoma had the highest incidence which frequently involved the sun-exposed regions in the old ages. Malignant melanoma showed a relatively high incidence compared with other previous studies in Korea. The extremities were the most frequent location for malignant melanoma. Clinical features of other various skin cancers were also reported in this study. The reconstructive method highly depends on the primary site of the cancer, while local flaps were the mostly used operative technique.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.455-461
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• 2000

Malignant tumors of the head and neck frequently require treatment with both radiotherapy and surgery. Reconstruction of the defect in previously irradiated field is a challenge to surgeon, who must produce both a functional and an esthetic result. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) has been used in an attempt to reduce the deleterious effects of radiation. But the issue of whether prior irradiation and HBO of the recipient site of a free flap affects the result of reconstruction continues to generate controversy. So, the effects of irradiation and hypergbaric oxygen therapy on microvascular anastomosis was evaluated in an experimental study in femoral vessels of rats. The experimental groups were divided into 3 groups, contorol group, irradiation group, and irradiation and HBO group. Preoperative irradiation was delivered in the left groin field with single dose corresponding 2,000cGy and total 48 hours of HBO was given 100% oxygen at 2.4 atmosphere for 4 weeks. The femoral vessels of 60 rats were anastomosed after irradiation and HBO treatment. Three days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery, the femoral vessels were evaluated for patency and histopathologic changes. There was no notable effect of irradiation on patency of femoral vessels in rats and the radiation effects were obvious on histological examination which showed the sloughing of the endothelial cells, subintimal hyperplasia and fibrosis on the media and adventitia of femoral arteries. The histologic changes of the femoral veins were mild and not typical. But the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy after irradiation was seen not marked difference in irradiation group.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1991

The fibrin sealant was first designed as an alternative to surgical suture for the purpose of surface-to-surface union especially in parenchymal organs like the liver, spleen and kidney. The clinical application of currently used fibrin sealant was first introduced in 1972. The fibrin sealant consists of principal two components; lyophilized human fibrinogen and bovine thrombin. The fibrinogen component also contains coagulation factor XIII. A solution of aprotinin, an inhibitor of fibrinolysis is used to dissolve the fibrinogen and to provide the first component, and a solution of calcium chloride is also used to provide the second component. From July to December in 1990, during 6 months, we used fibrin sealant in the 28 patients of 33 various cases, in the following ways; supportive application of fibrin sealant after free autogenouse nerve graft for the repair of inferior alveolar nerve, facial nerve or accessory nerve, treament of hemangioma or lymphangioma to thrombosize and lead to the tumor shrinking, skin grafting to stimulate the adhesion and tissue repair, bone grafting in the patients of cleft alveolus, mandibular reconstruction or orthognathic surgery to facilitate the knitting of bone chips, tissue adhesion after tumor resection, radical neck dissection or flap reconstructions, and supportive adhesion of external auditory cannal after TMJ surgery via postauricular approach. No adverse effects were observed, none of the patients developed hepatitis or other blood transmitted disease, and the wound healing were acceptable.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2005

중등도 이상의 치주염 환자에서 치은 열구액내의 MMPs 및 TIMP-1 과 치주염과의 연관성을 규명하고, 치주 수술이 MMPs 및 TIMP-1의 정량에 미치는 영향을 연구하고자 하였다. 총 14명의 치주낭 깊이 6mm 이상의 중등도 이상의 치주 질환 이환자에서 치아를 선정하여, 치주낭 심도, 치은 지수(gingival index)를 측정하고, 치은의 조직학적 염증의 정도를 측정하기 위해, 해당 치아의 치주낭 연조직을 절취하여 H-E염색을 하고, 치은 절편에서 염증세포 침윤의 정도 및 분포를 비교하였다. Perio-paper를 이용하여 치은열구액을 얻고, pyrogen-free water에서 추출하였다. 채취한 치은 열구액에서 ELISA-kit를 이용하여 MMP-1, 8, 9, 13과 TIMP-1을 측정하여 수술 전과, 수술 후, 그리고 건강한 조직인 대조군을 비교하였으며, 통계처리는 Wilcoxon 검정을 사용하였다. 또한 MMPs 혹은 TIMP-1이 치주낭 심도나 치은지수등의 임상적 지표와 가지는 연관성을 Spearman's correlation coefficient를 이용하여 알아보았다. TIMP-1을 제외한 MMP-1, 8 ,9, 13 에서 수술 전보다 수술 후에 치은 열구액 내의 양이 현저하게 줄어든 것을 관찰할 수 있었으나, MMP-1(p=0.025), MMP-9(p=0.016) 와 MMP-13(p=0.009) 에서만 통계적으로 유의성있는 차이를 보였다. 한편 MMP-9 (p=0.011) 나 MMP-13(p=0.026) 은 건강한 대조군과 수술 전 사이에도 유의성있는 차이를 보였다. 연조직의 조직학적 관찰을 통하여 치은지수의 임상적 신뢰도를 평가한 결과 통계학적으로 유의한 결과를 얻을 수 있었으며, 치주 치료 전의 치주낭 심도와 치은지수와의 관계나, 수술 전과 수술 후의 치주낭 심도등의 변화도 통계적으로 유의성있는 결과를 보였다. 하지만 치주낭 심도나 치은지수등의 임상적 지표는 MMPs나 TIMP의 정량과는 별다른 연관성을 보이지 않았다. 이 실험의 결과로 보아 MMP-1, MMP-9나 MMP-13을 치주 수술 전과 수술 후의 치주염의 심도 변화를 반영할 수 있는 지표로 생각할 수 있으며, 특히 MMP-9와 MMP-13가 치주염과 가지는 연관성은 크다고 할 수 있겠다.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.111-124
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• 2013

Purpose: We should prepare proper medical service for disaster control as South Korea is not free from terrorism and war, as we experienced through the two naval battles of the Yeonpyeong, one in 1999 and the other in 2002, the sinking of Cheonan in 2010, and the attack against the border island of Yeonpyeong in 2010. Moreover, North Korea's increasingly bellicose rhetoric and mounting military threats against the world demand instant action to address the issue. The aim of this article is to describe our experience with three patients with combat-related gunshot and explosive injuries to their extremities and to establish useful methods for the management of patients with combat-related injuries. Methods: Three personnel who had been injured by gunshot or explosion during either the second naval battle of the Yeonpyeong in 2002 or the attack against the border island of Yeonpyeong in 2010 were included in our retrospective analysis. There were one case of gunshot injury and two cases of explosive injuries to the extremities, and the injured regions were the left hand, the right foot, and the right humerus. In one case, the patient had accompanying abdominal injuries, and his vital signs were unstable. He recovered after early initial management and appropriate emergency surgery. Results: All patients underwent emergent surgical debridement and temporary fixation surgery in the same military hospital immediately after their evacuations from the combat area. After that, continuous administration of antibiotics and wound care were performed, and definite reconstructions were carried out in a delayed manner. In the two cases in which flap operations for soft tissue coverage were required, one operation was performed 5 weeks after the injury, and the other operation was performed 7 weeks after the injury. Definite procedures for osteosynthesis were performed at 3 months in all cases. Complete union and adequate functional recovery were achieved in all cases. Conclusion: The patient should be stabilized and any life-threatening injuries must first be evaluated and treated with damage control surgery. Staged treatment and strict adherence to traditional principles for open fractures are recommended for combat-related gunshot and explosive injuries to the extremities.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

Purpose: To analyze the clinical and radiologic results of the shoulder arthrodesis in brachial plexus injury patients with flail upper extremity. Material and Method: From Aug 1978 to April 2008, 29 shoulders in 29 patients with brachial plexus injury with shoulder fusion, we evaluated 20 shoulders in 20 patients, more than 1 year follow up. The average follow-up period was 6.45years (range: 1year~24years). There were 13 men and 7 women, and the mean age at the time of trauma was 32.0years(2~65 years). The type of injury was a motorcycle accident in 11 patients, in car accident in 5, pedestrian accident in 3, and fall from a height in 1. The lesion of injury was root and trunk in 1 patient, trunk and cord in 1, trunk in 18. Surgery was performed on the whole arm type paralysis in 12 patients, lower arm type paralysis in 8 patients. The preoperative visual analog scale score was 8.7(7~10). When the trapezius and serratus anterior muscle were in function, operation was performed. 18 patients were processed to the additional operation. Gracilis free flap in 6 patients, neurotization in 3, Steindler flexor plasty in 6, and tendon transfer in 3 were performed. Fixation was conducted with cancellous screws in 13 patients, Knoles pins in 5, and cancellous screws and Knoles pins in 2. The position of the arthrodesis at operation was $28.5^{\circ}$($20~45^{\circ}$) in abduction, $30.3^{\circ}$($20~45^{\circ}$) in flexion, and $30.8^{\circ}$($20~40^{\circ}$) in internal rotation. Result: The follow up visual analog scale score was 3.4(0~7). Postoperatively, shoulder spica cast was applied for 15.3weeks(8-20weeks). The median time to bony union was 17.7weeks(9~28weeks). Average range of motion was $32.0^{\circ}$($15~40^{\circ}$) of abduction, $24.0^{\circ}$($10~40^{\circ}$) of flexion, and $18.5^{\circ}$($10~30^{\circ}$)of internal rotation. Conclusion: The shoulder fusion in brachial plexus injury patients is one of the good methods to relieve pain, improve the function and stabilize the flail shoulder joint.