• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2007

Purpose: We reconstructed the skin defect of lower legs exposing muscles, tendons and bone with fasciocutaneous sural artery flap and report our cases. Materials and Methods: Between March 2005 and September 2006, 8 cases of skin defect were reconstructed with fasciocutaneous sural artery flap. Defect site were 4 case of ankle and foot and 4 cases of lower leg. The average defect size was $4{\times}4\;cm^2$. There were 5 men and 3 women and mean age was 52.2 years. We evaluated the viability of flap, postoperative complication, healing time, patient's satisfaction. Results: There was no flap failure in 8 cases. But recurrent discharge in 2 cases was healed through several times adequate debridement and delayed suture without complication. Flap edema may be due to venous congestion was healed through leg elevation and use of low molecular weight heparin. Mean time to heal the skin defect was 4 weeks. No infection and recurrence in follow up period. Cosmetic results as judged by patients were that 5 cases are good and 3 cases are fair. Conclusion: Sural artery flap is good treatment method among the numerous methods in the cases of skin defect, with soft tissue exposed, which is not covered with debridment and skin graft. Sural artery flap is useful method for the skin defect of lower legs because it is simple procedure, has constant blood supply and relatively good cosmetic effect.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.100-104
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• 2005

A soft tissue defect of the lower leg or foot presents a challenging problem. Reconstructive surgeon should be armed at all points of wound site, tendon and bone exposure, injury of major vessel and so on in the lower limb. We reconstructed the defects of lower legs and feet of 25 patients between February, 1997 and December, 2003. Applying reversed adipofascial flap with skin graft on a soft tissue defect of the lower leg or foot is challenging. We did a comparative study of 25 reversed adipofascial flaps with 51 free flaps. All 25 cases of reverse adpofascial flap reconstruction were successful except for a partial loss of skin graft in 3 occasions. The reversed adipofascial flap had a merit of a short operation time and hositalization, a high success rate and minimum complications. Besides major vessels in the lower leg are better preserved and donor morbidity is minimal. However, the flap is unmerited in reconstructing a hug hallowed defect and in the leg with poor blood circulation and once previous surgery. The operators may consider the feasible substitution of reversed adipofascial flap for free flap before applying in the lower leg.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.699-702
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• 2021

Extensive bone loss associated with severe vascular injury remains a challenge for lower extremity reconstruction. The fibular free flap has been utilized for many decades to reconstruct long-segment tibial defects. We present an unusual scenario of unilateral weight-bearing, wherein we salvaged the sole lower extremity by transfer of the fractured ipsilateral fibula and a bipedicled skin flap. A 38-year-old man sustained a severe crush injury in the right leg with loss of circulation. His left lower leg had a soft tissue defect measuring 20×15 cm with an exposed comminuted fracture and a 17-cm tibial defect, along with a segmental fracture of the fibula. Subsequently, we reconstructed the tibial defect by transferring a 17-cm-long section of the ipsilateral fibula. We covered the soft tissue defect with a bipedicled skin flap. The patient eventually began to ambulate independently after surgery.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.118-123
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• 2001

Introduction : We report advantages of distally based superficial sural artery flap in the soft tissue defect in lower leg, ankle and foot. They are easier and less complicated technique than others. Material & Method : Total 26 patients were operated and their soft tissue defect site were 10 cases of anterior tibial surface, 6 cases of Achilles tendon area, 3 cases of lateral and medial surface of tibia, 3 cases of foot dorsum surface, 3 cases of sole, 1 case of medial aspect of ankle. Average pedicle distance was 12.8 cm(range $8{\sim}21cm$) and follow up period was mean 18 months. Result : We obtained 24 cases of excellent and good results. The two cases were reported low complication rate, which were one case of skin necrosis covered full thickness skin graft, and the other case of infection. Conclusion : The advantage of distally based superficial sural artery flap in soft tissue defect are long distant pedicle, short operation time, easy elevation of pedicle, constant and reliable blood supply and good cosmetic result with thin-thickness flap.

• 대한족부족관절학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.109-112
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• 2009

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease that appear in patients with secondary hyper-parathyroidism or chronic renal failure or that show defect in calcium phosphate metabolism which is characterized by fibrin deposit or calcification of medial wall of vessels causing gradual ischemic skin necrosis. Calciphylaxis is a disease with poor prognosis as skin necrosis can progress rapidly. If left untreated, calciphylaxis will progress to sepsis with high mortality. The treatment is controversial but kidney transplantation or parathyroidectomy is suggested to recover calcium-phosphate metabolism. The authors have experienced calciphylaxis in a patient with chronic renal failure caused by DM nephropathy with characteristic skin lesion and rapid skin necrosis. We describe this case with documentary reviews.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.112-118
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• 2003

Purpose : Soft tissue defect and exposed tendons and bones with concomitant infection in the foot and lower leg have to be covered with vascularized flap as the one stage treatment. Authors have performed 6 cases of pedicled dorsalis pedis island flaps under the loupes magnification and evaluated the benefits. Materials and methods : From 1994 through 2003, we have performed 6 pedicled dorsalis pedis island flaps for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the foot and lower leg. The causes were trauma in 3 cases, skin necrosis and secondary infection after Achilles tendon repair in 2 cases and acute osteomyelitis in 1 case. Average age was 38 years and 5 cases were male and 1 female. The results of the procedure was evaluated by survival of the island flap, comfort in putting on shoes and walking, comfort in the donor site, comfort in the recipient site and range of motion of the ankle joint. Results : All pedicled dorsalis pedis island flaps survived except 1. Three cases felt discomfort in the dorsum of foot as the donor site and 1 case of the Achilles tendon ruptured and repaired showed limited dorsiflexion of ankle joint. Conclusion : Nonmicrosurgical pedicled dorsalis pedis island flaps under the loupes magnification are one of the useful treatment methods because procedure is rapid, survival is confident and overall reconstructive results are good.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of anterolateral thigh free flap on soft tissue defect following wide excision in malignant soft tissue tumor of lower extremities. Methods: Between February 2005 to April 2010, we followed up 19 cases who were undergoing anterolateral thigh free flap because of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity, including 9 cases were heel, 5 cases in foot, 3 cases in ankle, 2 cases in knee and leg. We observed that of implanted area's color, peripheral circulation at 3, 5, 7 days after operation and evaluated operating time, amount of hemorrhage, implanted skin necrosis, additional operations, complications. And we also evaluated the oncologic results, including local recurrence, metastasis, and morbidity. Results: Average operation time of wide excision and anterolateral thigh free flap was 7 hour 28 minutes. 18(94.7%) of total 19 cases showed successful engraftment, on the other hand, failure of engraftment due to complete necrosis of flap in 1 case. In 18 cases with successful engraftment, reoperation was performed in 4 cases. Among them, removal of hematoma and engraftment of flap after bleeding control was performed in 3 cases, because of insufficient circulation due to the hematoma. In the remaining 1 case, graft necrosis due to flap infection was checked, and grafted after combination of wound debridement and conservative treatment such as antibiotics therapy, also skin graft was performed at debrided skin defect area. Skin color change was mainly due to congestion with hematoma, flap was not observed global congestion or necrosis except 4 cases which shows partial necrosis on margin that treated with conservative therapy. Conclusions: Anterolateral thigh free flap could be recommended for reconstruction of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.329-332
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• 2021

Calcific myonecrosis is a rare condition in which hypoperfusion due to compartment syndrome causes soft tissue and muscle to become calcified. As calcific myonecrosis gradually deteriorates, secretions steadily accumulate inside the affected area, forming a cavity that is vulnerable to infection. Most such cases progress to chronic wounds that are unlikely to heal spontaneously. After removing the calcified tissue, the wound can be treated by primary closure, flap coverage, or a skin graft. In this case, a 72-year-old man had extensive calcific myonecrosis on his left lower leg, and experienced swelling and increasing tenderness. After removing the muscle calcification, we combined two anterolateral thigh free flaps, which were harvested from the patient's right and left thigh, respectively, to reconstruct the wound with a dead-space filler and skin-defect cover at the same time. The patient recovered without revision surgery or major complications.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.36-40
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• 2002

Purpose : Our clinical experiences in distally based sural artery island flap is presented to show the usefulness and the reliability as an alternative to flaps currently used for defect in lower extremity. Materials and Methods : From February 1998 to September 2001, nine cases of soft tissue defects in the lower leg, the foot, and around the ankle were treated with distally based sural artery island flap. The cause of the wound was trauma in 6 cases, and osteomyelitis in 3 cases. Defects were located at the lower leg in 2 cases, at the foot in 3 cases and around the ankle in 4 cases. The results were retrospectively analyzed. Results : The defect size ranged from $3{\times}3cm\;to\;20{\times}3cm$. Among 9 cases, 7 cases survived and 2 cases were failed. Flap failure was due to not including the deep fascia in one case and due to extensive soft tissue damage in the other case. Both failed cases were reoperated with the split thickness skin graft. Conclusion : The advantages of distally based sural artery island flap follows (1) reliable blood supply, (2) ease of flap elevation, (3) preservation of the major arteries, (4) less donor site morbidity. Owing to the advantages of this flap, we think it is useful for the soft tissue coverage of the lower leg, the foot and around the ankle. Also we believe it will continue to gain acceptance and use in the majority of lower leg reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.435-440
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• 2005

The reconstruction of deep soft tissue defects of lower extremities combined with bone exposure has been difficult problems. When it is impossible to raise local skin flap, we have been usually used the gastrocnemius musculocutaneous flap, cross leg flap or free flaps. However, In musculocutaneous flap, aesthetical appearance of the calf is not appropriate because of too bulky flap. Although the success rate of the free flap has improved, still failure of flap occurs in cases of the chronic ischemic state. As the concepts of perforator flap has recently developed and widely used due to its thin flap thickness. Between January 2002 to December 2004, we treated 7 patients with soft tissue defect in leg with chronic ischemic limbs with perforator island flap. Preoperative angiography were done in all case and we used 2 medial sural perforator flaps, 1 anterior tibial artery perforator flap, 1 posterior tibial artery perforator flap, 3 anterolateral thigh perforator flap. Partial necrosis of flap was seen in one patient but no further surgical procedure was required for wound healed spontaneously. Perforator island flaps are thin, reduce donor site morbidity, conceal donor site with primary closure and it is useful for resurfacing soft tissue defect of lower extremities.