• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.784-788
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• 2006

Purpose: For the reconstruction of the ankle joint as well as the soft tissue defect in the distal lower leg, a free flap or a local flap has been used, and because of the condition of patients, if a complex microvascular surgery under general anesthesia could not be performed, it could be reconstructed by using the distally based lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap using the perforating branch of the peroneal artery in the ankle area. Methods: The study subjects were 4 male patients between 53 years and 73 years of age. 2 cases were tissue defect in the medial malleolus area due to systemic diseases such as gouty arthritis accompanied traffic accident, diabetes mellitus foot, atherosclerotic obliterans, etc., 1 case was the defect in the pretibia area, and 1 case was the defect underneath the lateral malleolus, which was reconstructed by the distally based lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap. The donor area was the skin harvested from the groin, and the full thickness skin graft was performed. The size of the flap varied from $4{\times}3cm$ to $9{\times}6cm$. As the flap border, the medial side was to the tibialis anterior tendon, the lateral side was to the fibula crest, and the proximal area was less than the fibula size. Results: The consequence is that, in total 4 cases, the congestion in the flap began from 12 hours after the surgery, and the progression of congestion was ceased on the 5th day after the surgery, and finally epidermal bulla and sloughing, partial necrosis was developed. After the end of necrosis, the defect area was reconstructed successfully by the second full thickness skin graft. Conclusions: Although the distally based lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap has the shortcoming of requiring the second skin graft, it has the advantages that it does not require a long complex microsurgery, the flap itself is thin, it is similar to the color of the skin in the recipient area, and it does not leave a big scar in the donor area. Therefore, it is thought that for the cases who could not undergo a long complex surgery due to systemic diseases or the cases of patients whose condition of the recipient area is not suitable for microsurgery, the lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap is very useful for the reconstruction of the distal lower leg and the ankle joint area.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.352-357
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• 2007

Purpose: The coverage of distal soft tissue defects and bony exposure of the lower extremity has long been recognized to be difficult clinical problem. Covering with a local skin flap is usually impractical because of the extensive and deep crush, hence free flap has been used commonly for the coverage of the wound. Although it can provide good results, it has many disadvantages. Designing an adipofascial flap raised on perforating vessels of the posterior tibia artery is a reliable and simple method to perform, and it can solve these problems. Methods: From May 2005 to May 2006, 8 patients underwent reconstruction of lower leg defects utilizing various type of the posterior tibial artery perforator adipofascial flaps. The flap provided a durable and thin coverage for the defect, as well as a well vascularized bed for skin grafting. Results: The flap size ranged $15-80cm^2$, and skin graft was done for the recipient site. The flap were successfully used for the lower extremity reconstruction in most cases. Minor complications occurred in 4 cases. There was no functional disability of the donor site with esthetically pleasing results. Furthermore, these flaps were both easy to raise and insured sufficient arterial blood supply. Conclusion: We believe there are many advantages to this posterior tibial artery perforator adipofascial flap and that it can be highly competitive to the free flaps in the lower extremity reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.69-71
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• 2016

Reconstruction of the lower extremities is difficult due to a lack of skin laxity and muscular tissues. Here, we present a case of lower extremity reconstruction via the anterior tibial artery perforator based segmental muscle island flap. Our patient was a 75-year-old male with a chronic ulcerative wound on the right lower leg from an old car accident. A $5.0{\times}0.5cm$ size ulcerative wound with tibial bone exposure was noted. We planned to reconstruct the lower extremity defect with a free flap, but the vessel status was severely compromised intraoperatively. Thus, we found the anterior tibial artery perforator using Doppler ultrasound, elevated the tibialis anterior muscle segment flap, and transposed it to cover the defect successfully. The flap presented with a nice contour and the skin graft covering the flap survived completely. There were no complications of the surgical site at three months follow-up and no gait morbidity. This is a meaningful case applying the concept of segmental muscle flap based on a perforator that had advantages including proper bulkiness, vascularization, and preservation of function, which were well applied, leading to great success.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2008

Purpose: The lower leg often has poor vascularity, proximity to bone, and insufficient soft tissue. The island flaps offer a feasible one stage reconstruction and has a remarkable vascularization and high quality results for soft tissue defect with or without bony problems to occur on regions below the knee. So we reported our experience of island flaps with review of the literatures. Methods: We reconstructed 29 cases of soft tissue and 2 cases of bony defect on regions below the knee by using various island flaps at our hospital from December, 1991 to January, 2006. We used 2 fibular osteocutaneous island flaps, 15 reverse sural island flaps, 6 extensor digitorum brevis muscular island flaps, 2 medial plantar island flaps, 5 saphenous island flaps, and a dorsalis pedis island flap. Results: Partial necrosis was developed in 4 out of 15 reverse sural island flaps and 1 out of 5 saphenous island flaps, but they were healed with secondary skin graft. There was partial loss of skin graft on the donor sites in 2 cases. Conclusion: Island flaps are very useful for reconstruction of regions below the knee because island flaps have good vascularity and less risk of infection. Generous flap size, easy operative technique, lower cost, shorter operative time, and minimal morbidity at the donor site are other advantages. We attained satisfactory results.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Purpose : Plantar surfaces, calcaneal area, and region of Achilles insertion, which are extremely related with weight-bearing area and shoes application, must be reconstructed with glabrous and strong fibrous skin. Numerous methods of reconstructing defects of these regions have been advocated, but the transfer of similar local tissue as a cutaneous flap with preservation of sensory potential would best serve the functional needs of the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing surfaces of this region. Therefore it is recommended to use the limited skin of medial surface of foot that is similar to plantar region and non-weight-bearing area. In this paper we performed the medial plantar flap transfered as a fasciocutaneous island as one alterative for moderate-sized defects of the plantar forefoot, plantar heel, and area around the ankle in 25 cases and report the result, availability and problem of medial plantar flap. Materials and methods : We performed proximally based medial plantar flap in 22 cases and reverse flow island flap in 3 cases. Average age was $36.5(4{\sim}70)$ years and female was 3 cases. The causes of soft tissue defect were crushing injury on foot 4 cases, small bony exposure at lower leg 1 case, posterior heel defect with exposure of calcaneus 8 cases, severe sore at heel 2 cases, skin necrosis after trauma on posterior foot 4 cases, and defect on insertion area of Achilles tendon 6cases. Average follow up duration was 1.8(7 months-9.5 years) years. Results: Medial plantar flaps was successful in 22 patients. 18 patients preserved cutaneous branches of medial plantar nerve had sensation on transfered flap but diminished sensation or dysesthesia. At the follow up, we found there were no skin ulceration, recurrence of defect or skin breakdown in all 18 patients. But there was one case which occurred skin ulceration postoperatively among another 4 cases not contained medial plantar nerve. At the last follow up, all patients complained diminished sensation and paresthesia at medial plantar area distally to donor site, expecially with 4 patients having severe pain and discomfort during long-time walking. Conclusion : Medial plantar island flap based on medial plantar neurovascualr pedicle have low failure rate with strong fibrous skin and preserve sensibility of flap, so that it is useful method to reconstruct the skin and soft tissue defect of foot. But it should be emphasized that there are some complications such like pain and paresthesia by neuropraxia or injury of medial plantar nerve at more distal area than donor site. We may consider that medial plantar flap have limited flap size and small arc of rotation, and require skin graft closure of the donor defect and must chose this flap deliberately.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.360-366
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• 2012

Background Coverage of defects of the pretibial area remains a challenge for surgeons. The difficulty comes from the limited mobility and availability of the overlying skin and soft tissue. We applied variable pedicled perforator flaps to overcome the disadvantages of local flaps and free flaps on the pretibial area. Methods Eight patients who had the defects in the anterior tibial area were enrolled. Retrospective data were obtained on patient demographics, cause, defect location, defect size, flap dimension, originating artery, pedicle length, pedicle rotation, complication, and postoperative result. The raw surface created following the flap elevation was covered with a split thickness skin graft. Results Posterior tibial artery-based perforator flaps were used in five cases and peroneal artery-based perforator flaps in three cases. The mean age was 54.3 and the mean period of follow-up was 6 months. The average size of the flaps was 63.8 $cm^2$, with a range of 18 to 135 $cm^2$. There were no major complications. No patients had any newly developed functional deficit of the lower leg. Conclusions We suggest that pedicled perforator flaps can be an alternative treatment modality for covering pretibial defects as a simple, safe and versatile procedure.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2000

Acute high speed accidents that results in full thickness skin defect and exposure of tendon, nerve, vessel and periosteum over denuded bone demands soft tissue coverage. Exposed bone often ensues chronic infection and requires free flap transplantation which surely covers defects in one stage operation and enhances transport of oxygen-rich blood and converts a non-osteogenic or partially osteogenic site into a highly osteogenic site, but exposed bone which had performed free flap transplantation sometimes necroses and needs secondary bone procedure. Scar contracture limits joint motion should be excised and covered with normal soft tissue to restore normal range of motion. Authors have performed the large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap in 8 cases of extensive soft tissue defect and exposed bone lesion in the leg and 1 case of the flap was failed. The secondary ilizarov bone procedure was performed in 3 of 8 cases. 2 cases of large burn scar contracture and 1 case of posttraumatic scar contracture in lower extremity were restored with the large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap. Authors concluded that large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap is the most acceptable microvascular procedure in large soft tissue defect combined with exposed periosteum and bone requiring secondary bone procedure and in large burn scar contracture limiting knee joint motion.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.60-63
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• 2020

A 72-year-old man with diabetes, who underwent moxibustion, developed a foot wound but did not receive proper treatment. Examination showed a soft tissue defect (6×6 cm) on the dorsal aspect of the right foot with involvement of the first and second toes along with some phalangeal bone loss. The wound was treated with a skin graft and healed without complications. The right calf showed a raw surface (4×3 cm), which underwent epithelialization after conservative treatment. We observed four focal necrotic lesions (1.5×1.5 cm) on the right lower leg and anterior chest, which served as indicators of moxibustion, and debridement and primary closure were performed. Moxibustion is increasingly used as a therapeutic option; however, statistical data describing its adverse effects are limited. Moxibustion significantly increases skin temperature and can cause burn injuries. It is important to prevent moxibustion-induced adverse effects and avoid severe complications, particularly in patients with diabetes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.194-199
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• 2023

Moderate soft-tissue defects need stable coverage, ideally with tissue of similar characteristics and low donor site morbidity. We propose a simple technique for the coverage of moderate skin defects in the limbs. It allows intraoperative transformation of a propeller perforator flap (PPF) into a keystone design perforator flap (KDPF) in cases of unsatisfying perforator vessel or in cases of unpredictable intraoperative events. Between March 2013 and July 2019, nine patients with moderate soft-tissue defects (mean defect size 4.5 × 7.6 cm) in the limbs (two on the upper limbs and seven on the lower limbs) were covered using this technique. We performed four PPFs and five KDPFs. The mean follow-up was 5 months. There was one complication, partial distal tip necrosis in a PPF located in the leg, which healed by secondary intention within 3 weeks. The donor site was closed directly in all cases. No functional impairments were noted regardless of the perforator flap utilized. This technique enables us to employ flexible surgical strategies and allows us to make adjustments based on the patient's vascular anatomy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 1997

Latissimus dorsi(LD) muscle is the largest transplantable block of vascularized tissue. Since LD free flap was introduced in 1970's, this flap has been widely used for the reconstruction of large soft tissue defect of the limb. From 1981 to 1996, we had experienced 37 cases of LD free flap. Serratus anterior muscle was combined with LD in three of them whose defects were very large. The average age of the patients was 31 years(range : 4-74 years), and thirty one patients were male. Trauma was cause of the defect in every case. For the recipient sites, the foot and ankle was the most common(22 cases); and the knee and lower leg(11 cases), the elbow and forearm(2 cases), the hand(2 cases) were the next. The duration of follow-up was averaged as 16 months(range: 6 months-12 years). Thirty one cases(84%) out of 37 were successful transplantations. In one case the failure of the flap was due to heart attack and subsequent death of the patient. One failure was caused by sudden violent seizure of the patient who had organic brain damage. Immediate reexploration of the flap was performed in 4 patients, and the flap survived in three of them. There was one necrosis of the grafted split-thickness skin on the survived LD flap. LD free flap was considered as one of the good methods, for the reconstruction of the large soft tissue defect of the limb.