• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2002

Purpose: We would introduce the reverse superficial sural artery flap to reconstruct soft tissue defect on lower leg, ankle, and hind-foot. Materials and Method: From October 1998 to December 2001, we reconstructed 12cases (l2patients) of soft tissue defect around the hind - foot, ankle, and distal lower extremity with the reverse sural artery flap. Results: The time for flap dissection was 28 minutes in average. The size of the flap was from $4\times3cm$ to $14\times10cm$. All flaps survived. Conclusion: The reverse superficial sural artery flap is the useful technique for the soft tissue defect in the lower leg and the foot.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2012

Purpose: Soft tissue defect on posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon is vulnerable and require thin flap to improve aesthetic and functional results. Reverse superficial sural artery flap is simple and fast procedure, and it can preserves major arteries, supplies reliable constant blood, causes less donor site complication. Authors reviewed our cases and report the clinical results. Materials and Methods: Nine cases of soft tissue defects on the posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon were treated with distally based superficial sural artery flap. There were 6 male and 3 female and mean age was 48.4 years. The size of flap was from $4{\times}4cm$ to $10{\times}15cm$ and mean follow-up period was 23 months. Flap survival, postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: All flaps were survived completely without necrosis. There was one case of partial wound dehiscence that needed debridement and repair, and other one case had recurrent discharge that was healed after removal of calcaneal plate. All patient showed acceptable range of ankle motion. Conclusion: Authors suggest that the reverse superficial sural artery flap could be one of the useful treatment options for the soft tissue defect on posterior side of heel exposing Achilles tendon.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2020

Purpose: Soft tissue defects of the distal lower extremity are commonly accompanied by a fracture of the lower extremities. Theses defects are caused by the injury itself or by complications associated with surgical treatment of the fracture, which poses challenging problem. The reverse superficial sural artery flap (RSSAF) is a popular option for these difficult wounds. This paper reviews these cases and reports the clinical results. Materials and Methods: Between August 2003 and April 2018, patients who were treated with RSSAF for soft tissue defects of the lower third of the leg and ankle related to a fracture were reviewed. A total of 16 patients were involved and the mean follow-up period was 18 months. Eight cases (50.0%) of the defects were due to an open fracture, whereas the other eight cases (50.0%) were postoperative complication after closed fracture. The largest flap measured 10×15 cm² and the mean size of the donor sites was 51.9 cm². The flap survival and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: All flaps survived without complete necrosis or failure. One case with partial necrosis of the flap was encountered, but the wound healed after debridement and repair. One case had a hematoma with a pseudoaneurysmal rupture of the distal tibial artery. On the other hand, the flap was intact and the wound healed after arterial ligation and flap advancement. A debulking operation was performed on three cases for cosmetic reasons and implant removal through the flap was performed in three cases. No flap necrosis was encountered after these additional operations. Conclusion: RSSAF is a relatively simple and safe procedure for reconstructing soft tissue defects following a fracture of the lower extremity that does not require microsurgical anastomosis. This can be a useful treatment option for soft tissue defects on the distal leg, ankle, and foot.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical usability of reconstructive methods, and how to select flap after wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in ankle and foot. Materials and Methods: The 15 cases shown in the 14 patients (In case of a male patient, reconstruction was performed two times due to local recurrence.) with malignant soft tissue tumor in ankle and foot, who underwent reconstruction after wide excision from March 2000 until March 2007. Oncologic, surgical and functional results were evaluated. Results: The method of reconstruction used were anterolateral thigh perforator flap (5cases), Reversed superficial sural artery flap (4 cases), dorsalis pedis flap (3 cases), local flap (3cases). The defect, mean size was $5.5{\times}5.7\;cm$, was reconstructed with rotation flap or free flap, mean size was $5.9{\times}6.0\;cm$, skin graft for remnant. The mean operation time was 310 minutes (120~540 minutes); it took 256 minutes to reconstruct by rotation flap, and 420 minutes by free flap. As oncologic results, 7 patients were no evidence of disease, 6 patients were alive with disease and 1 patient was expired by pulmonary metastasis at the time of the last follow-up. 4 patients had local recurrence and 4 pateints had distant metastases. As functional results, 14 patients were evaluated with average score of 68.8% using the system of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. Conclusion: The dorsalis pedis and reverse superficial sural artery rotation flap which is easy procedure, has less complication and takes short operation time, can be primarily considered to reconstruct a small defect. And the anterolateral thigh perforator flap is suitable for coverage of a large defects after wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in ankle and foot.