• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.384-389
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• 2017

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of remote ischemic conditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat muscle flaps histopathologically and biochemically. Methods Thirty albino rats were divided into 5 groups. No procedure was performed in the rats in group 1, and only blood samples were taken. A gracilis muscle flap was elevated in all the other groups. Microclamps were applied to the vascular pedicle for 4 hours in order to achieve tissue ischemia. In group 2, no additional procedure was performed. In groups 3, 4, and 5, the right hind limb was used and 3 cycles of ischemia-reperfusion for 5 minutes each (total, 30 minutes) was applied with a latex tourniquet (remote ischemic conditioning). In group 3, this procedure was performed before flap elevation (remote ischemic preconditoning). In group 4, the procedure was performed 4 hours after flap ischemia (remote ischemic postconditioning). In group 5, the procedure was performed after the flap was elevated, during the muscle flap ischemia episode (remote ischemic perconditioning). Results The histopathological damage score in all remote conditioning ischemia groups was lower than in the ischemic-reperfusion group. The lowest histopathological damage score was observed in group 5 (remote ischemic perconditioning). Conclusions The nitric oxide levels were higher in the blood samples obtained from the remote ischemic perconditioning group. This study showed the effectiveness of remote ischemic conditioning procedures and compared their usefulness for preventing ischemiareperfusion injury in muscle flaps.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.759-764
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• 2007

Purpose: Various types of flaps, with their own advantages and disadvantages, have been described for reconstruction of soft tissue defect with exposure of tendons, bones, or joints in the hand or foot. Local flaps with random vascularity have a limitation by their length. Free flaps are time-consuming procedure that may require the sacrifice of some major vessels. The ideal flap for covering soft tissue defects of the hand or foot must provide subcutaneous tissue that tendons can glide through which, supply enough subcutaneous tissue for cover of vital neural, bony, vascular and joint structures, and it has to be aesthetically pleasing. The adipofascial flap fulfills these criteria. It allows immediate or early closure of difficult wound of hand and foot in an easy way, and is especially indicated for small to medium-sized defects. Methods: From October 2005 to December 2006, seven cases underwent this procedure to reconstruct soft tissue defect on hand or foot. Results: All flaps survived completely, and no complications were observed. Conclusion: The adipofascial flap is a convenient flap for coverage of soft tissue with exposure of vital structure in the hand or foot, and provide several advantages, as following; easy and safe, short operating time, one stage procedure, thinness and good pliability of the flap, preservation of the major vascular pedicles, skin preservation at the donor site, thus preserve the shape of the limb and minimize donor site scar.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2006

We retrospectively evaluated our results of replantations of distal digital amputations and analyzed the factors deterrent to the survival of replanted digits. From January 2004 to 2005 June, we performed 101 cases of replantations following complete amputations at or distal to interphalangeal joint level. The study included 98 patients with a mean age of 35.6 years (range 1 to 63 years). Amputation level correlated to zone I (distal to the lunula)in 47 cases and zone II (lunula to distal interphalangeal joint) in 54 cases according to Yamano's classification. According to the mechanism of amputation, 24 cases (22.9%) suffered from guillotine type injury, 27 cases (27.1 %) from avulsion type injury and 50 cases (50%) from crush type injury. In all cases, a single arterial anastomosis was performed. Venous anastomosis on either volar or dorsal side was performed in 12 cases of amputation in zone II. Salvage procedure for venous drainage was performed in 98 cases. The mean duration of salvage procedures was 5.9 days (ranging from 4 to 14 days). Successful replantation was achieved in 96 cases (95.1%), which included 93.7% cases in zone I amputations and 96.3% cases in zone II amputations. A single venous anastomosis was performed in 12 cases of amputation in zone II. All of them survived completely. Among the 5 cases that failed to survive, 3 cases were related with avulsion injury in zone I. Initial mechanism of injury determines the survival rate of amputated parts as it is directly related with the status of vessels and soft tissues. Meticulous precaution during the salvage procedure may affect the overall survival rate of distal digital replantations.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.340-344
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• 2018

Background In performing extended latissimus dorsi (ELD) flap procedures, a skin paddle design on the bra line helps reduce visible scarring. This improves the patient's satisfaction with the outcome. However, such a design leads to a longer operation time and increased fatigue of the surgeon due to the narrow operative field. In this study, the authors propose a method that elongates the axillary incision line posteriorly by 1.5 cm from the lateral border of the latissimus dorsi muscle. We examined whether this method could shorten the operation time and compared the incidence of complications between patients who underwent this novel procedure and patients who underwent the traditional procedure. Methods In this study of patients who underwent ELD flap procedures for immediate breast reconstruction, 89 underwent surgery with the elongated axillary incision and 45 underwent surgery without the elongated incision. The total operation time and complications were retrospectively examined based on the patients' medical records, and we examined whether there was any statistically significant difference in the total operation time. Results In the experimental group with the elongated axillary incision, the operation time ranged from 125 to 255 minutes (median, 175 minutes). In contrast, in the control group without the elongated axillary incision, the operation time ranged from 142 and 340 minutes (median, 205 minutes). The operation time was statistically significantly different between the two groups, and no significant complications were observed in the experimental group. Conclusions Elongation of the axillary incision alone may shorten the operation time of the ELD flap procedure without causing additional complications.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.178-183
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• 2014

Lip canting is associated with facial asymmetry, and is one of the most challenging problems in surgical correction of facial deformities. The author corrected lip canting using bioabsorbable devices during orthognathic surgery. Soft tissue suspension procedures were performed on four patients with facial asymmetry. Lip lines improved for all patients. Over an observation period of five years, no complications were noted, nor did any late relapse develop. Furthermore, as time past, the effect of the Endotine suspension procedure increased probably due to induction of fibrosis on surrounding soft tissues.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2010

Purpose: The free flap has been widely used as one stage reconstructive procedure the skin and soft tissue defect. The secondary adjuvant operations are often needed for better results as functional and aesthetic compartment. Therefore, we focus on the secondary adjuvant surgeries for better outcome after free flaps. Methods: One hundred ninety six consecutive patients underwent free flaps between January, 2002 and February 2009. The cases constituted ninety two male patients and one hundred four female patients. For the patients who got free flap operation, we investigated secondary adjuvant operations what type of procedures was applied according to the reconstructed sites. All clinical data were based on the patient's medical records. Results: Of one hundred ninety six patients in whom free flap was performed, a total of eighty two patients(41.8%) received the secondary adjuvant operation. Because of many patients got multiple secondary adjuvant operations, the number of the secondary adjuvant operation become one hundred fifty five cases. The most common used procedure is a liposuction, and the second one is a lipoinjection. Conclusion: As the secondary adjuvant operation like a liposuction, lipoinjection, etc., satisfaction for operative result was increased in the aspects of function and aesthetics. So the secondary adjuvant operation in free flap surgeries contributed in raising the patient's quality of life.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.329-332
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• 2021

Although lipoma is a common benign tumor, it occurs relatively infrequently in the oral and maxillofacial areas, and only 31 cases of lipoma in the buccal fat pad have been reported. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of symmetric lipomas in both buccal fat pads. These masses were incidentally discovered during a facelift procedure in a 50-year-old woman with a 4-year history of tamoxifen use. during which she had gained 10 kg. The patient stated that cheek protrusion had developed concomitantly with weight gain and was exacerbated by an injection lipolysis procedure she had received 1 year previously. This case underscores the importance of paying careful attention to the patient's medication use and surgical history when evaluating suspected cases of lipoma, and sheds light on tamoxifen use and subcutaneous injections of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate as potential risk factors for lipoma development.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.234-250
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• 2024

Background The impact of diabetes on complication rates following free flap (FF), pedicled flap (PF), and amputation (AMP) procedures on the lower extremity (LE) is examined. Methods Patients who underwent LE PF, FF, and AMP procedures were identified from the 2010 to 2020 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP®) database using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases-9/10 codes, excluding cases for non-LE pathologies. The cohort was divided into diabetics and nondiabetics. Univariate and adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Among 38,998 patients undergoing LE procedures, 58% were diabetic. Among diabetics, 95% underwent AMP, 5% underwent PF, and <1% underwent FF. Across all procedure types, noninsulin-dependent (NIDDM) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were associated with significantly greater all-cause complication rates compared with absence of diabetes, and IDDM was generally higher risk than NIDDM. Among diabetics, complication rates were not significantly different across procedure types (IDDM: p = 0.5969; NIDDM: p = 0.1902). On adjusted subgroup analysis by diabetic status, flap procedures were not associated with higher odds of complications compared with amputation for IDDM and NIDDM patients. Length of stay > 30 days was statistically associated with IDDM, particularly those undergoing FF (AMP: 5%, PF: 7%, FF: 14%, p = 0.0004). Conclusion Our study highlights the importance of preoperative diabetic optimization prior to LE procedures. For diabetic patients, there were few significant differences in complication rates across procedure type, suggesting that diabetic patients are not at higher risk of complications when attempting limb salvage instead of amputation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.601-609
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• 2023

Background The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is a preferred option in the reconstruction of a wide variety of defects, enabling multiple tissue components and thicknesses. Methods This study was conducted to investigate the correlation of the thickness of the traditional subfascial ALT flap and superficial fat flap with age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). A total of 42 patients (28 males and 14 females) were included in the study. Results Mean age was 50.2 (range, 16-75) years and mean BMI was 24.68 ± 4.02 (range, 16.5-34.7) kg/m². The subfascial flap thickness was significantly thinner in male patients (16.07 ± 2.77 mm) than in female patients (24.07 ± 3.93 mm; p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found between male (4.28 ± 1.15 mm) and female patients (4.85 ± 1.09 mm) regarding superficial fat flap thickness (p = 0.13). The thickness of both flaps had a positive correlation with BMI, and the strongest correlation was found for subfascial ALT thickness in female patients (r = 0.81). Age had no effect on both flap thickness measurements. The anterior thigh is thicker in women than in men, although it varies according to BMI. This shows that flap elevation is important in the superthin plane, especially if a thin flap is desired in female patients in defect reconstruction with the ALT flap. Thus, a single-stage reconstruction is achieved without the need for a defatting procedure after subfascial dissection or a second defatting procedure 3 to 6 months later. Conclusion The appropriate ALT flap plane should be selected considering the gender and BMI of the patient.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.349-353
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• 2008

Purpose: There are 3 well-known surgical procedures to treat Pierre Robin sequence: tongue-lip adhesion, distraction osteogenesis of mandible, and tracheostomy. The classical tongue-lip adhesion is an effective way to keep airway. The tongue, however, becomes quite non-mobile and appears dormant until the patient could control upper airway and the adhesion can be maintained for prolonged period. Most of all, this procedure does not provide the correction of the micrognathia. Distraction osteogenesis is a good technique to correct micrognathia and to prevent tracheostomies in patients with Pierre Robin sequence. But airway keeping procedure is needed during the distraction period. The purpose of this study is to determine the usefulness of temporary tongue-lip traction during the initial period of mandibular distraction in Pierre Robin sequence patients with severe airway problems requiring operative procedure. Methods: It was a prospective study of 2 Pierre Robin sequence patients aged between 4 months and 6 months requiring surgical procedure to correct recurrent and severe pulmonary complications. Two patients underwent distraction osteogenesis of mandible. During the operation, deep one tension suture was performed to tract the tongue and lip. When the patient gained control of upper airway at the initial period of distraction and micrognathia was corrected, the traction suture was removed. Results: All patients were followed up. No patients complained severe pulmonary complications and tracheostomy could be avoided. No patients had severe pulmonary complication. The pulmonary condition of patients was good. Conclusion: In severe Pierre Robin sequence case, temporary tongue-lip traction is a good assistant method in distraction osteogenesis because this method can avoid tracheostomy.