• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2023

Background: Conventional radial forearm free flaps (RFFFs) are known to be safe, but can result in donor site complications. Based on our experiences with suprafascial and subfascial RFFFs, we evaluated the safety of flap survival and surgical outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective study of head and neck reconstructions using RFFFs from 2006 to 2021. Thirty-two patients underwent procedures using either subfascial (group A) or suprafascial (group B) dissection for flap elevation. Data were collected on patient characteristics, flap size, and donor and recipient complications, and the two groups were compared. Results: Thirteen of the 32 patients were in group A and 19 were in group B. Group A included 10 men and three women, with a mean age of 56.15 years, and group B included 16 men and three women, with a mean age of 59.11 years. The mean defect areas were 42.83 cm² and 33.32 cm², and the mean flap sizes were 50.96 cm² and 44.54 cm² in groups A and B, respectively. There were 13 donor site complications: eight (61.5%) in group A and five (26.3%) in group B. Flexor tendon exposure occurred in three patients in group A and in none in group B. All flaps survived completely. A recipient site complication occurred in two patients (15.4%) in group A and three patients (15.8%) in group B. Conclusions: Complications and flap survival were similar between the two groups. However, tendon exposure at the donor site was less prevalent in the suprafascial group, and the treatment period was shorter. Based on our data, suprafascial RFFF is a reliable and safe procedure for reconstruction of the head and neck.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.90-93
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• 2013

Old post burn contractures on feet still remain challenging problem for reconstructive surgeon. A 43-year-old male visited Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital with the complain of foot deformity and difficulties in shoe fitting. His right 4th and 5th toes were inverted at dorsal foot. We released the contracture of 4, 5th metatarsophalangeal joint and lengthened extensor tendon by Z-plasty, and covered the resultant defect with the anterolateral thigh flap. The flap was successful and the deformity was corrected. As there have been few reports on reconstruction of foot dorsum, especially on post burn extension contractures in the toes, we report a rare case of contracture release and coverage by free flap.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2013

Quite high prevalence of acute and chronic complications of calcaneal fractures has been reported. Acute complications include blisters, wound necrosis or infection. Late complications include subtalar arthritis, calcaneal malunion, lateral subfibular impingement, tendon problems, sural nerve complications. There are many surgical or nonsurgical treatment modalities to manage those complications. However strategic initial surgical approach with gentle soft tissue handling accompanied by comprehensive understanding about numerous complications might be the best tool to achieve pain free and functional heel after treating calcaneal fractures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.451-459
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• 2020

Background For volar soft tissue defects of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, free flaps are technically challenging, but have more esthetic and functional advantages than local or distant flaps. In this study, we compared the long-term surgical outcomes of arterial (hypothenar, thenar, or second toe plantar) and venous free flaps for volar defects of the PIP joint. Methods This was a single-center retrospective review of free flap coverage of volar defects between the distal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joint from July 2010 to August 2019. Patients with severe crush injuries (degloving, tendon or bone defects, or comminuted/intra-articular fractures), thumb injuries, multiple-joint and finger injuries, dorsal soft tissue defects, and defects >6 cm in length were excluded from the study, as were those lost to follow-up within 6 months. Thirteen patients received arterial (hypothenar, thenar, or second toe plantar) free flaps and 12 received venous free flaps. Patients' age, follow-up period, PIP joint active range of motion (ROM), extension lag, grip-strength ratio of the injured to the uninjured hand, and Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder & Hand (QuickDASH) score were compared between the groups. Results Arterial free flaps showed significantly higher PIP joint active ROM (P=0.043) and lower extension lag (P =0.035) than venous free flaps. The differences in flexion, grip strength, and QuickDASH scores were not statistically significant. Conclusions The surgical outcomes of arterial free flaps were superior to those of venous free flaps for volar defects of the PIP joint.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.111-114
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• 2007

Open calcaneal fracture with more than lateral half of bone loss and soft tissue defect occurred in 17 year-old male patient due to motor vehicle accident. Soft tissue defect included heel pad, peroneal tendon. Bone loss involved mainly most part of inferior tuberosity but not subtalar joint. Open dressing and debridement were done daily in operating room and antibiotics administration was started. After granulation tissue formed, femoral head allograft was performed and fixed with 6.0 mm screws to replace bone defect. Soft tissue defect was covered with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap. No sign of infection nor major osteolysis was observed in 15 months follow up period. Soft tissue defect was covered with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 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.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2015

Purpose: Pollicization typically involves surgical migration of the index finger to the position of the thumb. This procedure facilitates the conversion of a useless hand into a well-functioning one in patients who are not amenable to the toe-to-hand transfer. However, middle finger pollicization has been rarely reported. Materials and Methods: We reconstructed a thumb by immediate pollicization of the remnants of the middle finger in two patients who sustained a tumor and a trauma, respectively. The former, after cancer ablation was performed, has not been reported literally, and the latter involved free devitalized pollicization of the middle finger using a microsurgical anastomosis. The distal third extensor communis tendon was sutured to the proximal extensor pollicis longus tendon and the distal flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus were sutured to the proximal flexor pollicis longus. The abductor pollicis brevis tendon was sutured to the distal end of the first palmar interosseous muscle. Coaptation of the third digital nerve and the superficial radial nerve branch was performed. Results: Patients showed uneventful postoperative courses without complication such as infection or finger necrosis. Based on the principles of pollicization, a wide range of pinch and grasp movements was successfully restored. They were pleased with the functional and cosmetic results. Conclusion: Although the index finger has been the digit of choice for pollicization, we could also use the middle finger on specific occasions. This procedure provides an excellent option for the reconstruction of a mutilated thumb and could be performed advantageously in a single step.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.796-798
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• 2007

Purpose: Giant cell tumor is the second most common benign neoplasm in upper extremity. Unlike usual chief complaint of painless mass, an atypical case with giant cell tumor presented a distinguishing characteristics of which accompany pain and tenderness and is histologically giant-cell free. Methods: A 31-year-old male patient complained of a rapid growing painful mass on the proximal phalanx of the left ring finger. Under microscopic operation, a $1.6{\times}1.3cm$ sized mass was found to be surrounded by areolar tissue and attached to a tendon sheath, encircling the digital nerve and artery. Diagnostic confirmation was assisted by positive finding in histologic immunohistochemical stain-CD68. Characteristic pathologic finding is an atypical distribution of spindle cells & histiocytes without giant cells in fascicular pattern. Results: Giant cell tumor was carefully removed under microscopic approach, while preserving digital nerve & artery. In postoperative 13th month, the patient presented with a 6mm of static two-point discrimination test, similar to that of the adjacent fingers. Conclusion: We report an atypical case with painful mass on tendon sheath, surrounding the digital nerve and artery that was diagnosed of giant cell tumor, but without giant cells on pathology. This case provides broader understanding of the giant cell tumor that should not only rely its typical findings of the painless mass and positive sign on H&E stain.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.259-266
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• 2003

This paper introduces a relation to determine the span ratio between exterior and interior spans, which is strongly required in the preliminary design stage of bridges constructed by Free Cantilever Method (FCM). A relation for the initial tendon force is derived on the basis of an assumption that no vertical deflection occurs at the far end of a cantilever beam due to the balanced condition between the self-weight and the cantilever tendons. In advance, the span ratio can be determined by using an assumption that the negative maximum moment must be the same with the positive maximum moment along the entire spans to be a rational bridge design. Finally, many rigorous lime-dependent analyses are conducted to establish the validity of the introduced relations. The obtained numerical results show that the rational design of FCM bridges may be achieved when the span length ratio of the exterior span to the interior span ranges about 0.75 to 0.8.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2004

Flaps are necessary, when important structures such as bone, tendon, nerve and vessel are exposed. Arterialized venous free flap is suited to the coverage of finger and hand because the thickness of venous flap is thin. Authors performed 65 cases arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of the hand and finger. The size of donor defect were from $1{\times}1cm\;to\;7{\times}12cm$. The mean flap area was $9.1cm^2$. The recipient sites were finger tip in 34 cases, finger shaft in 29 cases and hand in 2 cases. The donor sites were volar aspect of distal forearm in 40 cases, thenar area in 17 cases and foot dorsum in 6 cases. The types of arterialized venous free flap were A-A type in 4 cases and A-V type in 61 cases. The length of afferent vein was from 0.5 cm to 3 cm (mean 1.7 cm) and efferent vein was from 1 cm to 10 cm (mean 2.2 cm). 58 flaps(89.2%) survived eventually. 42 flaps(64.6%) survived totally without any complication. 8 flaps(12.3%) showed the partial necrosis but they were healed without any additional operations. 8 flaps (12.3%) showed the partial necrosis requiring the additional skin graft. We had a satisfactory result by using arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of finger and hand. We believe that volar aspect of distal forearm, thenar area, foot dorsum are suited as a donor site and the short length of the flap pedicle, the strong arterail inflow affect the survival rate of arterialized venous free flaps.