• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.815-820
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• 2011

Purpose: Perforator flaps have been widely used for reconstruction of pressure sores because they have many benefits, especially reducing tension. Otherwise in order to prevent recurrence of a pressure sore, sufficient thickness of a flap is desirable, so a musculocutaneous flap is also useful for reconstruction of a pressure sore. Therefore, the authors considered about the postoperative results of reconstruction of pressure sores between using perforator flaps and musculocutaneous flaps. Methods: In this study, 33 patients (46 flaps) who underwent reconstructive operation of pressure sores from January 2007 to February 2011 were reviewed. Patients operated by using perforator flaps were 18 (18 flaps), and musculocutaneous flaps were 17 (28 flaps). We studied postoperative complications and recurrence. Results: We experienced five patients (10 flaps) with complications or recurrences who were operated using musculocutaneous flaps and one patient using a perforator flap. One case using a perforator flap stemmed from dehiscence caused by a urinary fistula occurring in two months after the surgery. Among ten cases using musculocutaneous flaps, one case was caused by total necrosis of flap, five cases by partial necrosis of flap and dehiscence, and four cases by recurrences during follow-up period. Conclusion: Even if more cases were required, it can be more considerable to operate using the perforator flap rather than the musculocutaneous flap to reduce the complication or recurrence of pressure sore.

• 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.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2005

Perforator flaps have become increasingly popular in microsurgery nowadays and are being used widely for many cases of reconstruction after trauma and cancer ablation. And thoracodorsal perforator based free flap is one of them having the merits of carrying a large skin paddle with leaving intact innervation and function of the remaining latissimus dorsi muscle. We made a homogeneous thin flap excluding the main muscle with a long vascular pedicle and tried to decrease the donor site morbidity. But, it needs a long learning-curve and we have met marginal flap necrosis frequently. Besides, prolonged operation time for complete perforator dissection may be a tedious job to the microsurgeon. To overcome these disadvantages, we usually included very small portion of the latissimus dorsi muscle during this flap elevation around the pedicled 2-3 thoracodorsal perforators during this flap elevation. We performed 3 cases of thoracodorsal perforator based free flap at Hallym university sacred heart hospital between May and August 2005 for the soft tissue defect of the scalp and feet. The average flap size was $8{\times}14\;cm$. Although it is not a true perforator flap, we can get the reliability for the flap survival with much better blood circulation and save the time of one or two hours to dissect the perforators completely. All cutaneous flaps survived completely without any complication except one fatty female who had the very small superficial fat necrosis due to flap bulkiness. We believe the thoracodorsal perforator based free flap can be extended its versatility and reliability by including the very small portion of the muscle around the perforators.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.467-469
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• 2021

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.94-105
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• 2012

Simple or complex defects in the lower leg, and especially in its distal third, continue to be a challenging task for reconstructive surgeons. A variety of flaps were used in the attempt to achieve excellence in form and function. After a long evolution of the reconstructive methods, including random pattern flaps, axial pattern flaps, musculocutaneous flaps and fasciocutaneous flaps, the reappraisal of the works of Manchot and Salmon by Taylor and Palmer opened the era of perforator flaps. This era began in 1989, when Koshima and Soeda, and separately Kroll and Rosenfield described the first applications of such flaps. Perforator flaps, whether free or pedicled, gained a high popularity due to their main advantages: decreasing donor-site morbidity and improving aesthetic outcome. The use as local perforator flaps in lower leg was possible due to a better understanding of the cutaneous circulation, leg vascular anatomy, angiosome and perforasome concepts, as well as innovations in flaps design. This review will describe the evolution, anatomy, flap design, and technique of the main distally pedicled propeller perforator flaps used in the reconstruction of defects in the distal third of the lower leg and foot.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2023

Basilar artery (BA) perforator aneurysms are exceedingly rare causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therefore, the natural history and optimal treatment have not been established, and surgical, endovascular, and conservative management have been used. However, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy. Herein, we report the case of a 52-year-old man presenting with a ruptured BA perforator aneurysm. First, we deployed an Enterprise stent from the left P1 segment to the BA because the microcatheter could not enter the aneurysm. Then, we deployed a helical coil on the orifice of the BA perforator. Finally, we deployed another Enterprise stent, sandwiching the helical coil between the two Enterprise stents. The aneurysm was completely obliterated without recurrence on the follow-up angiography. Our technique of sandwiching the small helical coil between two Enterprise stents might help other surgeons by offering another feasible treatment option for ruptured BA perforator aneurysms.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2006

This study investigated the clinical application of anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap in reconstruction of soft tissue defect of lower extremity. There were twenty-one patients who had been taken soft tissue reconstruction with anterolateral thigh perforator flap. There were 19 males and 2 females between 3 and 65 years (mean, 36 years). This study included 4 cases of pedatric case of under 10-year-old. All cases were a cutaneous flap. Flap size averaged $160\;cm^2\;(20{\sim}450\;cm^2)$. 19 cases were musculocutaneous perforator flaps and 2 were septocutaneous perforator. T-shaped pedicle were used to reconstruct and to preserve major artery of lower extremity in 2 cases. 19 cases flaps survived completely and 2 cases flap were marginal necrosis partially. There was venous congestion in one case of type of reverse island flap but that was improved after salvage procedure with leech. While the donor sites were closed directly in 5cases, 16 cases underwent skin graft. ALT flap is suitable for coverage of defects in lower extremity where have various condition and reliable in children as in adult.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.375-378
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• 2018

In this report, we present a case of successful treatment of a bowel fistula in the open abdomen by perforator flaps and an aponeurosis plug. A 70-year-old man underwent total gastrectomy and developed anastomotic leakage and dehiscence of the abdominal wound a week later. He was dependent upon extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, continuous hemodiafiltration, and a respirator. Bowel fluids contaminated the open abdomen. Two months after the gastric operation, a plastic surgery team, in consultation with general surgeons, performed perforator flaps on both sides and constructed, as it were, a bridge of skin sealing the orifice of the fistula. The aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle was elevated with the flap to be used as a plug. The perforators of the flaps were identified on preoperative and intraoperative ultrasonography. This modality allowed us to locate the perforators precisely and to evaluate the perforators by assessing their diameters and performing a waveform analysis. The contamination decreased dramatically afterwards. The bare areas were gradually covered by skin grafts. The fistula was closed completely 18 days after the perforator flap. An ultrasound-guided perforator flap with an aponeurosis plug can be an option for patients suffering from an open abdomen with a bowel fistula.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-27
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• 2015

During flap elevation, most perforators are cut except one or more perforators that are essential to flap survival. However these cutout perforators can cause deterioration of the blood circulation of the flap. To salvage the jeopardized flaps, rebuilding the perforator system is essential for flap survival. In the first case, after flap elevation, the upper abdominal flap margin was severely ischemic. To supply blood to the upper abdominal flaps, we found and used a major perforator underneath the upper abdominal flap which was cut earlier during the elevation, and we performed reanastomosis with ipsilateral deep inferior epigastric artery. Upper abdominal flap ischemic area was limited to a narrow suture area. In the second case, we performed free superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap reconstruction. After successful anastomosis of the SIEA and superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV) with internal mammary artery and vein, serious venous congestion occurred immediately because of SIEV malfunction. We found the largest perforator vein under the flap, as an alternate way to drain, then connected it with the thoracoacromial vein with a vein graft harvested in the contralateral SIEV. Circulation has improved. In conclusion, perforator system reconstruction is essential in a jeopardized flap salvage.