• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2017

The superior gluteal artery perforator flap technique has increasingly been used for soft tissue defects in the sacral area following its introduction nearly 25 years ago. Advantages in covering sacral defects include muscle sparing, versatility in design, and low donor side morbidity. The bilateral superior gluteal artery perforator flap procedure is planned in cases of large sacral defects that cannot be covered with the unilateral superior gluteal artery perforator flap. Here, we report two cases of large sacral defects in which patient factors of poor general health, such as old age, pneumonia, and previous operation scar, led to use of a large unilateral superior gluteal artery perforator super-flap with parasacral perforator. The approach was utilized to reduce the operation time and prevent unpredictable flap failure due to the large flap size. Even though the parasacral perforator was included, the versatility of the large superior gluteal artery perforator flap was preserved because sufficient perforator length was acquired after adequate dissection.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.692-697
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• 2008

Purpose: Gluteal perforator flap has evolved to one of the standard tools for coverage of pressure sore. We used this flap to cover the defect adjacent to the buttock. Methods: From September 2004 to August 2006, gluteal perforator flaps were performed in 3 patients with sore and 9 patients with tumor. We made the rule for free style design of the flap. First, the defect should be covered fully regardless of the shape or area. Second, the location of perforators was decided to maximize flap mobility. Third, the donor-site should be closed directly. Results: Successful reconstruction was fulfilled. In 2 cases, initial flap congestion was observed but medical leech was applied and it was resolved. Partial flap loss occurred in one case. Infection was observed in one case. But there were no major complications. Conclusion: Gluteal perforator flap is very good option for the reconstruction of the defects adjacent to the buttock.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2011

Purpose: Management of pressure sores has been improved, along with development of musculocutaneous flaps and perforator flaps. Nowadays, the treatment of pressure sore with perforator flaps has shown several advantages, including minimal donor site morbidity, relatively versatile flap design not only in primary cases but also in recurred cases and minimized anatomical rearrangement of regional muscle position. In this study, we report our clinical experience of gluteal perforator flap used in the treatment of a greater trochanteric pressure sore. Methods: A clinical study was performed on 7 patients who underwent total 10 operations. 1 superior gluteal artery perforator flap and 9 inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps were used to reconstruct the defect, followed by the mean observation duration of 22 months. Results: There were no total flap loss. We treated 2 cases of partial flap loss with debridement and primary repair. 2 recurred cases were successfully treated using the same method. Donor sites were all primarily repaired. Conclusion: The gluteal perforator flap could be considered as a safe and favorable alternative in the treatment of soft tissue defects in the greater trochanteric area. The advantages of the flap include low donor site morbidity and the possibility of versatile flap design not only in primary cases but also in recurred cases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 2007

Purpose: Gluteal perforator is easily identified in the gluteal region and gluteal perforator flap is a very versatile flap in sacral sore reconstruction. We obtained satisfying results using the gluteal perforator flap, so we report this clinical experiences with a review of the literature. Methods: Between November of 2003 and April 2006, the authors used 16 gluteal perforator flaps in 16 consecutive patients for coverage of sacral pressure sores. The mean age of the patients was 47.4 years (range, 14 to 78 years), and there were 9 male and 7 female patients. All flaps in the series were supplied by musculocutaneous arteries and its venae comitantes penetrating the gluteus maximus muscle and reaching the intrafascial and suprafascial planes, and the overlying skin forming a rich vascular plexus arising from gluteal muscles. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 11.5 months. Results: All flaps survived except one that had undergone total necrosis by patient's negligence. Wound dehiscence was observed in three patients and treated by secondary closure. There was no recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Gluteal perforator flaps allow safe and reliable options for coverage of sacral pressure sores with minimal donor site morbidity, and do not sacrifice the gluteus maximus muscle and rarely lead to post-operative complications. Freedom in flap design and easy-to perform make gluteal perforator flap an excellent choice for selected patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.712-716
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• 2010

Purpose: Extensive lumbosacral defects after removal of spinal tumors have a high risk of wound healing problems. Therefore it is an effective reconstructive strategy to provide preemptive soft tissue coverage at the time of initial spinal surgery, especially when there is an instrument exposure. For soft tissue reconstruction of a lumbosacral defect, a variation of the gluteal flap is the first-line choice. However, the musculocutaneous flap or muscle flap that is conventionally used, has many disadvantages. It damages gluteus muscle and causes functional disturbance in ambulation, has a short pedicle which limits areas of coverage, and can damage perforators, limiting further surgery that is usually necessary in spinal tumor patients. In this article, we present the superior gluteal artery perforator turn-over flap that reconstructs complex lumbosacral defects successfully, especially one that has instrument exposure, without damaging the ambulatory function of the patient. Methods: A 67 year old man presented with sacral sarcoma. Sacralectomy with L5 corpectomy was performed and resulted in a $15{\times}8\;cm$ sized complex soft tissue defect in the lumbosacral area. There was no defect in the skin. Sacral stabilization with alloplastic fibular bone graft and reconstruction plate was done and the instruments were exposed through the wound. A $18{\times}8\;cm$ sized superior gluteal artery perforator flap was designed based on the superior gluteal artery perforator and deepithelized. It was turned over 180 degrees into the lumbosacral dead space. Soft tissue from both sides of the wound was approximated over the flap and this provided in double padding over the instrument. Results: No complications such as hematoma, flap necrosis, or infection occurred. Until three months after the resection, functional disturbances in walking were not observed. The postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan shows the flap volume was well maintained over the instrument. Conclusion: This superior gluteal artery perforator turn-over flap, a modification of the conventional superior gluteal artery perforator flap, is a simple method that enabled the successful reconstruction of a lumbosacral defect with instrument exposure without affecting ambulatory function.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.49-55
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• 2016

Purpose: Soft tissue defects in the lumbosacral area can be challenging to treat, and various methods to accomplish this have been proposed, including the use of perforator flaps. Herein, we present our experience with superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) and inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) flaps for the reconstruction of lumbosacral defects. Materials and Methods: From March 2013 to July 2016, 28 cases (27 patients) of lumbosacral defects were treated by reconstruction with SGAP or IGAP flaps. The defects were caused by pressure sores (21 cases), burns (3 cases), tumor resection (2 cases), scars (1 case), or foreign body infection (1 case). Reliable perforators around the defect were found using Doppler ultrasound. The perforator flaps were elevated with a pulsatile perforator and rotated to cover the defects. Results: Twenty-three SGAP and 5 IGAP flap reconstructions were performed. The mean flap size was $9.2{\times}6.1cm^2$ (range, $5{\times}3cm^2$ to $16{\times}10cm^2$). Donor sites were closed by primary closure. Partial flap necrosis occurred in two cases, and minor complications of wound dehiscence occurred in 3 cases, which were healed by primary closure. The mean follow-up period was 4.4 months (range, 1~24 months). Conclusion: Gluteal-based perforator flaps can be safely harvested due to pliability and reliable vascularity in the gluteal area, reducing donor site morbidity without sacrificing the underlying muscles. Thus, these flaps are useful options for the reconstruction of lumbosacral defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2007

Purpose: The gluteal artery perforator flaps earned its popularity in buttock reconstruction due to the lower morbidity of the donor site and the flexibility in the design. Speedy and safe reconstruction is important for the success of buttock reconstruction. If a proper design is selected, satisfactory results can be obtained with more simple method of surgery. Methods: Between April 2005 and April 2006, buttock reconstruction by using gluteal artery perforator flaps were performed on sacral sores(6 cases), ischial sores(2 cases) and malignant melanoma on buttock(1 case). Various designs depending on the location and the size of the defect was made. In those designs, perforator was used as an axis for the minimal dissection of the vessel. Donor site from which sufficient amount of soft tissue can be transferred was selected, and also not causing high tension against the recipient site during the donor site closure. In addition, postoperative aesthetics, and the possibility of another design of a second operation which can be necessary in the future, was considered. Results: Patient follow up was for a mean period of 10.8 months. All flaps survived except for one that had undergone partial necrosis. Wound dehiscence was observed in one patient treated by secondary closure. Most patients presented with cosmetically and functionally satisfying results Conclusion: By designing the flap using the perforator as an axis, depending on the defect size and degree, reconstruction can be performed with only a small tension to the donor and the recipient site. And the minimal perforator dissection allowed easier and faster reconstruction. Selection of a proper design is the key procedure which greatly affects operation time and result success.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2013

Over the past few years, a large number of perforator flaps have been revised by several microsurgeons in the USA, France, Canada and Japan. A perforator flap is a flap of skin or subcutaneous tissue that is based on the dissection of a perforating vessel, which is a perforator. In short, a perforator is a vessel that has its origin in one of the axial vessels of the human body. By reducing any muscle harvesting and trauma to a minimum, perforator flaps aim to minimize donor site morbidity, and by avoiding the transfer of dennervated muscle, the long-term bulk of the free tissue transfer becomes more predictable. There are a finite number of potential perforator flaps in the body, which are based on the named source arteries. The most commonly used perforator flaps are deep inferior epigastric perforator, superior gluteal artery perforator, thoraco dorsal artery perforator, medial sural artery perforator, and anterolateral thigh perforator flap. For a better understanding of perforators as a routine reconstructive procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery, the definition with nomenclature, classifications with special characteristics, and review points for their individual applications must be learned and memorized by the young doctors in the course regarding the special curriculum periods for the Korean national board of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Perforator flaps have been known to have many advantages, so this review article summarized their applications to the maxillofacial reconstruction in the Korean language.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

Purpose: The ischial area is by far the most common site of pressure sores found in wheel chair bound paraplegic patients, because greatest pressure is exerted from the body on this area in a sitting position. Even after a series of successful pressure sore treatments, the site is very prone to relapse by the simplest ordinary tasks of everyday life. Therefore, it is crucial to preserve the main pedicle during primary surgery. Various surgical procedures employed to treat pressure sores such as myocutaneous flap and perforator flap have been introduced. After introduction of ischial sore treatment using the inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) has been made, the authors experienced favorable clinical results of patients who have undergone IGAP flap procedure in a three year time period. Methods: A total of 17 patients received IGAP flap surgery in our hospital from January 2003 to May 2006, among which 14 of them being males and 3 females. Surgery was performed on the same site again in 6(35%) patients who had originally relapsed after receiving the conventional method of pressure sore surgery. Patients' average age was 49.4(27-71) years old. Most of the patients were paraplegic(11 cases, 65%) and others were either quadriplegic(4 cases, 23%) or ambulatory(2 cases, 12%). Based on hospital records and clinical photographs, we have attempted to assess the feasibility and practicability of the IGAP flap procedure through comparative analysis of several parameters: size of defective area, treatment modalities, occurrence of relapses, complications, and postoperative treatments. Results: The average follow-up duration of 17 subjects was 25.4 months(5-42 months). All flaps survived without any necrosis. Six cases were relapsed cases from conventional surgical procedures. All of them healed well during our follow-up study. Postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence and fistula developed in some subjects, but all were well healed through secondary treatment. A total of 2 cases relapsed after surgery. Conclusion: The inferior gluteal artery perforator flap is an effective method that can be primarily applied in replacement to the conventional ischial pressure sore reconstructive surgery owing to its many advantages: ability to preserve peripheral muscle tissue, numerous possible flap designs, relatively good durability, and the low donor site morbidity rate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.455-461
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• 2019

Background Various surgical management methods have been proposed for ischial sore reconstruction, yet it has the highest recurrence rate of all pressure ulcer types. A novel approach combining the advantages of a perforator-based fasciocutaneous flap and a muscle flap is expected to resolve the disadvantages of previously introduced surgical methods. Methods Fifteen patients with ischial pressure ulcers with chronic osteomyelitis or bursitis, who underwent reconstructive procedures with an inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) fasciocutaneous flap and a split inferior gluteus maximus muscle flap from January 2011 to June 2016, were analyzed retrospectively. The split muscle flap was rotated to obliterate the deep ischial defect, managing the osteomyelitis or bursitis, and the IGAP fasciocutaneous flap was rotated or advanced to cover the superficial layer. The patients' age, sex, presence of bursitis or osteomyelitis, surgical details, complications, follow-up period, and ischial sore recurrence were reviewed. Results All ischial pressure ulcers were successfully reconstructed without any flap loss. The mean duration of follow-up was 12.9 months (range, 3-35 months). Of 15 patients, one had a recurrent ulcer 10 months postoperatively, which was repaired by re-advancing the previously elevated fasciocutaneous flap. Conclusions The dual-flap procedure with an IGAP fasciocutaneous flap and split inferior gluteus maximus muscle flap for ischial pressure ulcer reconstruction is a useful method that combines the useful characteristics of perforator and muscle flaps, providing thick dual padding with sufficient vascularization while minimizing donor morbidity and vascular pedicle injury.