• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 1996

There are many kinds of free flaps for management of extensive soft tissue defect of extremities in orthopaedic field. Free vascularized scapular flap is one of the most useful and relatively easy to application. This flap has been utilize clinically from early eighties by many microsurgical pioneers. Authors performed 102 cases of this flap from 1984 to 1995. We have to consider about the surgical anatomy of the flap, technique of the donor harvesting procedures, vascular varieties and anatomical abnormalities and success rate and the weak points of the procedure. This flap nourished by cutaneous branches from circumflex scapular vessels emerges from the lateral aspect of the subscapular artery 2.5-5cm from its lateral origin passing through the triangular space(bounded by subscapularis, teres minor, teres major, long head of triceps). The terminal cutaneous branch runs posteriorly around the lateral border of the scapular and divided into two major branches, those transeverse horizontally and obliquely to the fascial plane of overlying skin of the scapular body. We can utilize these arteries for scapular and parascapular flap. The vascular pedicle ranged from 5 to 10 cm long depends on the dissection, usually two venae comitantes accompanied circumflex scapular artery and its major branches. The diameter of the circumflex scapular artery is more than 1mm in adult, rare vascular variation. Surgical techniques : The scapular flap can be dissected conveniently with prone or lateral decubitus position, prone position is more easier in my experience. There are two kinds of surgical approaches, most of the surgeon prefer elevation of the flap from its outer border towards its base which known easier and quicker, but I prefer elevation of the flap from its outer border because of the lowering the possibilities of damage to vasculature in the flap itself which runs just underneath the subcutaneous tissue of the flap and provide more quicker elevation of the flap with blunt finger dissection after secure pedicle dissection and confirmed the course from the base of the pedicle. There are minimal donor site morbidity with direct skin closure if the flap size is not so larger than 10cm width. This flap has versatility in the design of the flap shape and size, if we need more longer and larger one, we can use parascapular flap or both. Even more, the flap can be used with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap and serratus anterior flap which have common vascular pedicle from subscapular artery, some instance can combined with osteocutaneous flap if we include the lateral border of the scapular bone or parts of the ribs with serratus anterior. The most important shortcoming of the scapular free flap is non sensating, there are no reasonable sensory nerves to the flap to anastomose with recipient site nerve. Results : Among our 102 cases, overall success rate was 89%, most of the causes of the failure was recipient site vascular problems such as damaged recipient arterial conditions, and there were two cases of vascular anomalies in our series. Patients ages from 3 years old to 62 years old. Six cases of combined flap with latissimus dorsi, 4 cases of osteocutaneous flap for bone reconstruction, 62 parascapular flap was performed - we prefer parascapular flap to scapular. Statistical analysis of the size of the flap has less meaningful because of the flap has great versatility in size. In the length of the pedicle depends on the recipient site condition, we can adjust the pedicle length. The longest vascular pedicle was 14 cm in length from the axillary artery to the enter point cutaneous tissue. In conclusion, scapular free flap is one of the most useful modalities to manage the large intractable soft tissue defect. It has almost constant vascular pedicle with rare anatomical variation, easy to dissect great versatility in size and shape, low donor morbidity, thin and hairless skin.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 1996

After transplantation of groin free flap was sucessed by the Daniel and Taylor in 1973, the reconstruction of plastic surgery was extensive and universal due to rapidly developement of anatomic study of the donor site and technique of microvascular surgery. The free tissue transfers is possible to be early activity and rehabilitation by one stage operation. It currently available allow transfer of specific tissue quality as bone, muscle, nerve to achieve a functional and cosmetic result as well as the most favorable secondary defect. But free flaps require critical, skillful technique and lengthy operating time. Also it has disadvantage of donor site morbity at the large tissue transfer. Authors were transferred with 107 cases in 103 patients from May 1987 to June 1996, and then we analysed free tissue transfer to acquire more increased sucess rate, satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. The sexual distribution was male prominent in 79 cases(76.7%), female in 24(23.3%) and age was variable distribution from 3 to 76 years old. The cause of defects was most prevalent in trauma of traffic and industrial accident in 51 cases(49%). The common recipient site were lower extremities in 47 cases(43.9%), upper extremities in 28 cases(26.5%), head and neck in 25 cases(23.4%), and trunk in 7 cases(6.5%). The type of transfer were free skin flaps in 46 cases(43%), free muscle or musculocutaneous flaps in 31 cases(29%), free vasculized or osteocutaneous flaps in 10 cases(9.3%), and specilized free flaps in 20 cases(18.7%). The anastomosis of artery was end to end anastomosis in 94 cases(87.9%), end to side anastomosis in 13 cases(12.1%) and all vein was end to end anastomosis. The number of anastomosed vessels were one artery one vein in 62 cases(57.9%), one artery two vein in 45 cases(42.1%) and vein graft was performed only one case. The postoperative mornitoring were used with temperature, color of flap, capillary refilling time, ultrasonogram, bone scan, doppler, and endoscopy. The reexploration was performed in 9 cases(8.4%), and then flap was loss in 3 cases(2.8%). Accordingly overall success rate was 97.2%. The postoperative complication was early vascular occlusion, hematoma, partial necrosis and late bulkiness, scarring, color dismatch etc. Therefore, free tissue transfer is the preferred method of treatment, even through conventional local and distant flaps are available.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1999

The skin on the dorsum of the foot is a source of the reliable thin and sensory cutaneous free tissue transplantation with or without tendon, bone and joint. A composite flap with attached vascularized tendon grafts for the combined loss of skin and tendon on the dorsum of the hand and foot offers an immediate one stage solution to this problem. The flap provides a very durable innervated tissue cover for the heel of the foot and the dorsum of the hand and an osteocutaneous transfer combined with the second metatarsal. The major dorsalis pedis artery is constant in size, but the first dorsal metatarsal artery is variable in size and location. The dorsal surface of the foot receives sensory innervation through the superficial peroneal nerve and the first web through the deep peroneal nerve. Authors had performed 5 dorsalis pedis free flap transplantation in the foot and hand at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital from August 1993 through August 1997 and followed up for the period of between 19 and 67 months until March 1999. The results were as follows 1. 5 cases dorsalis pedis free flap transfer to the foot(4 cases) and the hand(1 case) were performed and the recipient was foot dorsum and heel 2 cases each and hand dorsum 1 case. 2 All of 5 cases(100%) were survived from free flap transfer and recipient artery was dorsalis pedis artery(2 cases), anterior tibial artery(1 case), posterior tibial artery(1 case) and ulnar artery(1 case) and recipient veins were 2 in number except in the hand. 3. Long term follow up of the exterior and maceration was good and sensory recovery was poor 4. Donor site was covered with full thickness skin graft obtained from one or both inguinal areas at postoperative 3rd week and skin graft was taken good and no morbidity was showed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.337-342
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• 2012

The osseous or osteocutaneous free fibula flap has become the gold standard for most mandibular reconstructions because of its favorable osseous characteristics. However, disadvantages, such as the time-consuming reconstructive step, difficulty in performing the osteotomies to precisely recreate the shape of the missing segment of mandible and poor bone-to-bone contact play a role in making the surgeons look for alternative flaps. With the advent of computerized design software, which accurately plans complex 3-dimensional reconstructions, has become a process that is more efficient and precise. However, the ability to transfer the computerized plan into the surgical field with stereolithographic models and guides has been a significant development in advancing reconstruction in the maxillofacial regions. The ability to "pre-plan" the case, mirror and superimpose natural structures into diseased and deformed areas, as well as the ability to reproduce these plans with good surgical precision has decreased overall operative time, and has helped facilitate functional and esthetic reconstruction. We describe a complex case treated with this technique, showing the power and elegance of computer assisted maxillofacial reconstruction from the University of Michigan, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.