• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2010

Purpose: Nowadays spinal cord stimulator is frequently used for the patients diagnosed as complex regional pain syndrome. The lead is placed above the spinal cord and connected to the stimulation generator, which is mostly placed in the subcutaneous layer of the abdomen. When the complication occurs in the generator inserted site, such as infection or generator exposure, replacement of the new generator to another site or pocket of the abdomen would be the classical choice. The objective of our study is to present our experience of the effective replacement of the existing stimulation generator from subcutaneous layer to another layer in same site after the wound infection at inexpensive cost and avoidance of new scar formation. Methods: A 50-year-old man who was diagnosed as complex regional pain syndrome after traffic accident received spinal cord stimulator, Synergy$^{(R)}$ (Medtronic, Minneapolis, USA) insertion 1 month ago by anesthetist. The patient was referred to our department for wound infection management. The patient was presented with erythema, swelling, thick discharge and wound disruption in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. After surgical debridement of the capsule, the existing generator replacement beneath the anterior layer of rectus sheath was performed after sterilization by alcohol. Results: Patient's postoperative course was uneventful without any complication and had no evidence of infection for 3 months follow-up period. Conclusion: Replacement of existing spinal cord stimulation generator after sterilization between the anterior layer of rectus sheath and rectus abdominis muscle in the abdomen will be an alternative treatment in wound infection of stimulator generator.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.300-303
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• 2013

Blunt abdominal trauma is commonly encountered in the emergency department. The lack of historical data and the presence of distracting injuries or altered mental status, from head injury or intoxication, can make these injuries difficult to diagnose and manage. We experienced a case of traumatic organized hematoma misdiagnosed as intra-peritoneal tumor with intestinal obstruction. A 52-year-old homeless male patient who have chronic alcoholism was admitted via emergency room with infra-umbilical abdominal pain. At admission, he was drunken status and so we could not be aware of blows to the abdomen. He had a unknown large operation scar on mid abdomen. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed the intestinal obstruction of the ileum level with 5.5cm sized mesenteric tumor. We performed adhesiolysis and widely segmental resection of small bowel including tumor with side-to-side anastomosis due to great discrepancy in size. He stated later that he was a victim of the violence before 3 weeks. A final pathologic report revealed well encapsulated, traumatic mesenteric hematoma with organizing thrombi, ischemia and abscess formation with multiple adhesion bands. Finally, the patient was discharged without complications on postoperative day 14.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.65-67
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• 2013

Osteomyelitis is an infection of bone or bone marrow, caused by pyogenic bacteria or mycobacterium. Osteomyelitis can be acute or chronic, inflammatory process of the bone and its structures. Chronic osteomyelitis will result in variable sclerosis and deformity of the affected bone. With an infection of the bone, the subsequent inflammatory response will elevate this overlying periosteum, leading to a loss of the nourishing vasculature, vascular thrombosis, and bone necrosis, resulting occasionally in formation of sequestra. These become areas that are more resistant to systemic antibiotic therapy due to lack of the normal Havesian canals that are blocked by scar tissue. At this aspect, not only systemic antibiotic therapy, but also surgical debridement maybe required to remove the affected bone and prevent disease propagation to adjacent areas. We experienced a patient who diagnosed tongue cancer and underwent wide partial glossectomy few years before, with an ulcerative lesion around right retromolar trigon. We diagnosed cancer recurrence because PET indicated hot uptake on mandible which was nearby previous tongue tumor site. The patient received hemiglossectomy via paramedian mandibulotomy, partial mandibulectomy and fibula osteocutaneous free flap reconstruction. But final diagnosis was mandible osteomyelitis on pathology report. Here, we present the case with a review of the related literatures.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2015

Purpose: The rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (RAM) flap has contributed to the efficient reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The flap has the advantage of easy dissection, minimal donor site morbidity, and the constant vascular anatomy with long pedicle. Authors used the free RAM flap to reconstruct multi-located soft tissue defects while still considering functionality and aesthetics. We present the long-term outcomes and versatility of free RAM flaps. Materials and Methods: From 1994 to 2004, all patients who underwent soft tissue reconstruction with free RAM flap were reviewed retrospectively. The site of the reconstruction, vessels of anastomosis, type of RAM flap, and outcomes, including flap success rate, hospital stay after flap transfer, conduction of secondary procedure, flap complications, and donor-site complications were analyzed. Results: Twenty-one patients underwent 24 free RAM flaps in site of breast, face, upper extremity and lower extremity. Mean follow-up period was 36.1 months (range, 3~156 months). The overall success rate was 92% with only a loss of 2 flaps. Minor complications related to transferred flaps were necrosis of 2 partial flaps, hematoma formation in 3 cases, and a wound infection in 1 case. Donor site morbidity was not observed. Debulking surgery was performed in 4 patients, and scar revision was performed in 3 patients. Conclusion: Free RAM flap is a workhorse flap for general soft-tissue reconstruction with minimal donor site morbidity with aesthetically good results. Thus, the free RAM flaps are versatile, and sturdy for any sites of soft-tissue where reconstruction could be performed.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.136-141
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• 1995

Tracheostomal stenosis after total laryngectomy is a distressing complication which con-tributes significantly to both psychosocial and physical morbidity according to nature and severity in laryngectomee. Sternal stenosis will compromise not only optimal air exchange, crust formation but also the ability to clear tracheobronchial secretion, so pneumonia and atelectasis will develop. Having a number of procedure recommended for correction of such stenosis with limited results. We developed new technique which is based on tracheal advancement flap had been ap-plied to 12 patients, successfully. We think that total or partial tracheal advancement flap technique Is useful for widening the stoma and advantages of this method are following. 1. Simple technique. possible under local anesthesia 2. Healthy tracheal ring facilities width control 3. Less chance of refractory scar stenosis 4. Tracheoesophageal shunt can be constructed after the partial advancement flap.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.502-508
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• 2005

Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) contains three principal ingredients, asiaticoside (AS), asiatic acid (AA), and madecassic acid (MA). These components are known to be clinically effective on systemic scleroderma, abnormal scar formation, and keloids. However, one problem associated with administration of TECA is its low solubility in aqueous as well as oil medium. In this study, various nonionic surfactants and bile salts as anionic surfactant were tested and screened for solubilizing TECA with a view to developing topical hydrogel type of ointment which is stable physicochemically, and has better pharmacological effects. When TECA was incorporated into various nonionic surfactant systems, labrasol had the most potent capacity for solubilizing TECA. In cases of bile salt systems, Na-deoxycholate (Na-DOC) had foremost solubilizing capacity, even more than labrasol. In differential scanning calorimetric study, the peaks of AA, MA, AS and Na-DOC disappeared at the coprecipitate of $1\%$ TECA and $1\%$ Na-DOC, suggesting the optimum condition of Na-DOC for solubilizing TECA. When the physicochemical stability of hydrogel containing this mixture was assessed, it was stable at room temperature for at least one month. Pharmacologically it significantly decreased the size of wound area at the $9^{th}$ day when applied to the wound area of rat dorsal skin. Taken together, solubility of TECA was dramatically improved by using non ionic and anionic surfactant systems, and Na-DOC was found to be the most effective solubilizer of TECA in formulating a TECA-containing hydrogel typed ointment. Moreover this gel was considered to be applicable to clinical use for wound healing effect.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2006

Bare-topped thufur is called as frost scars, implying the rupturing stage of vegetated mounds, Field observations and measurements provide empirical information on the process and factors of thufur disintegration in Mt. Halla, Initial bare patches on mound apexes are scaled up by continuous removal of soil and vegetation, resulting in the formation of crater-like thufur, Frost action plays a primary role in thufur disintegration, In particular, pipkrake loosens soil particles within the bare patches and subsequently accelerates the degradation of vegetated mounds during periods with frequent diurnal freeze-thaw cycle and high soil moisture, Deflation also has an impact on thufur breakup in that the bare patches usually lack upper dark brown soil and are covered with granules, Withered shrubs such as Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii are frequently observed in frost scars and disrupted mounds, indicating that thufur disintegration has been probably influenced by global warming.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.420-425
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• 2007

Purpose:The mechanism of scar formation is not fully understood. Fibroblast is an important cell in wound healing process. We experienced a patient who was taking progesterone orally. Upper blepharoplasty was performed on her but, wound healing was delayed. We hypothesized that progesterone was the cause of delayed wound healing and fibroblast proliferation inhibition. We investigated the effect of progesterone in vitro on human dermal fibroblasts to study the effects on fibroblast proliferation. Methods: Human dermal fibroblasts from four persons were cultured initially. Progesterone is mixed to them at various concentrations, and fibroblast cell count was measured by MTT assay method at 570 nm. We confirmed that progesterone has some inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation and maximal inhibitory concentration of progesterone was determined. Then fibroblasts from a total of nineteen persons were cultured and the effects of progesterone were studied. Results: The initial study showed the maximal inhibitory concentration of progesterone to be $50{\mu}g/ml$. The main study showed that progesterone had 70.9% inhibitory effect on human dermal fibroblast in vitro. Conclusion: Progesterone has inhibitory effect on cultured human dermal fibroblast proliferation in vitro.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2010

Purpose: Adhesion after flexor tendon injury is a result of fibrosis between tendon and tendon sheath. This, finally interfere with gliding mechanism of tendon and results in functional problem of hands. Therefore, there have been many trials to reduce adhesion around the tendon. However, there is no standard procedure clinically practiced in hospitals. Mitomycin-C is an antineoplastic alkylating agent that decrease fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. It is commonly used in many surgery to reduce postoperative adhesion. This study was designed to observe the effect of Mitomycin-C on preventing adhesion in injured flexor tendon. Methods: The deep flexor tendon of digit 2 and 4 in the left forepaw of 15 New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to partial tenotomy. In study group, injury site was exposed to a single 5-minute application of Mitomycin-C, and in control group was left untreated. Digit 2 and 4 in the right forepaw of each rabbit were considered as nonadhesion control group. After 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and digits were amputated for biomechanical test and histological study. Results: In biomechanical study to measure yield point, mean yield point of non-adhesion control was $17.43{\pm}2.33$ and $25.07{\pm}4.03$ for adhesion control, which proves increase of adhesion in adhesion control group (p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In Mitomycin-C group, mean yield point was $12.71{\pm}4.97$. Compared with adhesion control, there was decrease in adhesiveness in Mitomycin-C group (p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In histological study, the result of adhesion control revealed massive adhesions of bony structure, fibrotic tissue and tendon structure with ablation of the border. However in Mitomycin-C group, we could find increased fibrotic tissue, but adhesion is much lesser than adhesion group and borders between structures remain intact. Conclusion: This study suggests that Mitomycin-C can significantly reduce adhesion of injured flexor tendon in rabbit model.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.280-283
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• 2007

A 6-year-old male dog was referred to Animal Medical Center, Chonbuk National University with large distal extremity abrasion wound to the hind limb by automobile accident. The wound was reconstructed with an autogenous, full-thickness skin mesh graft. The graft was harvested from the ventrolateral abdominal wall and transplanted to the wound. The skin mesh graft survived successfully without any noticeable complications. Successful grafting requires asepsis, an adequately prepared recipient bed through the surgical debridement and lavage, proper harvesting and preparation of the graft. Full-thickness skin mesh graft has lesser skin contraction which prevents formation of scar. Meshing the graft provides more graft flexibility over uneven, convex and concave surfaces and allows adequate drainage. The full-thickness skin mesh graft can be successfully used for the treatment of large distal skin wounds in dogs.