• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2011

Purpose: We compared wound healing between the conventional tie-over dressing and silicone sheeting after skin grafting in patients with skin defects. Materials and Methods: Of a total of 30 cases of skin defects, 15 underwent conventional tie-over dressing and the remaining 15 underwent silicone sheeting skin grafting, we compared hematoma formation and infection status between the 2 techniques 1 and 2 weeks after operation Results: Hematoma was not observed in all cases. The wound infection rate decreased in silicone group. Conclusions: Silicone sheeting skin graft may be helpful in reducing wound infection.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.418-423
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• 2016

Background Skin grafting is a relatively simple and thus widely used procedure. However, the elastic and structural quality of grafted skin is poor. Recently, various dermal substitutes have been developed to overcome this disadvantage of split-thickness skin grafts. The present study aims to determine the feasibility of RapiGraft as a new dermal substitute. Methods This prospective study included 20 patients with partial- or full-thickness skin defects; the patients were enrolled between January 2013 and March 2014. After skin defect debridement, the wound was divided into two parts by an imaginary line. Split-thickness skin grafting alone was performed on one side (group A), and RapiGraft and split-thickness skin grafting were used on the other side (group B). All patients were evaluated using photographs and self-questionnaires. The Manchester scar scale (MSS), a chromameter, and a durometer were used for the scar evaluation. The average follow-up period was 6 months. Results The skin graft take rates were 93% in group A and 89% in group B, a non-significant difference (P=0.082). Statistically, group B had significantly lower MSS, vascularity, and pigmentation results than group A (P<0.05 for all). However, the groups did not differ significantly in pliability (P=0.155). Conclusions The present study indicates that a simultaneous application of RapiGraft and a split-thickness skin graft is safe and yields improved results. Therefore, we conclude that the use of RapiGraft along with skin grafting will be beneficial for patients requiring reconstructive surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2020

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is the gold standard for coverage of acute burns and reconstructive wounds. However, the choice of the donor site for STSG varies among surgeons, and the scalp represents a relatively under-utilized donor site. Understanding the validity of potential risks will assist in optimizing wound management. A comprehensive literature search was conducted of the PubMed database to identify studies evaluating scalp skin grafting in human subjects published between January 1, 1964 and December 31, 2019. Data were collected on early and late complications at the scalp donor site. In total, 27 articles comparing scalp donor site complications were included. The selected studies included analyses of acute burn patients only (21 of 27 articles), mean total body surface area (20 of 27), age distribution (22 of 27), sex (12 of 27), ethnicity (5 of 27), tumescent technique (21 of 27), depth setting of the dermatome (24 of 27), number of harvests (20 of 27), mean days of epithelization (18 of 27), and early and late complications (27 of 27). The total rate of early complications was 3.82% (117 of 3,062 patients). The total rate of late complications was 5.19% (159 of 3,062 patients). The literature on scalp skin grafting has not yet identified an ideal surgical technique for preventing donor site complications. Although scalp skin grafting provided superior outcomes with fewer donor site complications, there continues to be a lack of standardization. The use of scalp donor sites for STSG can prevent early and late complications if proper surgical planning, procedures, and postoperative care are performed.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.133-136
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• 2014

Skin grafting is often required for diabetic ulcerative foot lesions. In skin grafting, effective regional or local anesthesia into the donor and recipient areas plays a significant role in continuous control of pain. We report on a technique of ultrasound-guided nerve block on the femoral, sciatic, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves in large split-thickness skin grafting for ulcer of the foot and leg.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2014

Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder induced by a loss of melanocytes. In addition to replacement of pure melanocytes, cocultures of melanocytes with keratinocytes have been used to improve the repigmentation outcome in vitiligo treatment. We previously identified by in vitro studies, that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) could be a potential substitute for keratinocytes in cocultures with melanocytes. In this study, the efficacy of pigmentation including durability of grafted melanocytes and short-term safety was examined in the nude mouse and Sprague-Dawley rat after grafting of primary cultured human melanocytes, with or without different ratios of primary cultured human ADSCs. Simultaneous grafting of melanocytes and ADSCs, which were separately cultured and mixed on grafting at the ratios of 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3, showed better efficacy than that of pure melanocytes. Grafting of melanocytes cocultured with ADSCs resulted in a similar outcome as the grafting of cell mixtures. Skin pigmentation by melanocytes : ADSCs at the ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 was better than at 1:3. No significant difference was observed between the 1-week and 2-week durations in coculturing. Time-course microscopic examination showed that the grafted melanocytes remained a little longer than 6-week post-grafting. No inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the grafted skin and no melanocytes were detectable in other organs. Collectively, grafting of melanocytes and ADSCs was equally safe and more effective than grafting of melanocytes alone. Despite the absence of significant differences in efficacy between the group of 1:1 and that of 1:2 ratio, 1:2 ratio for 1-week coculturing may be better for clinical use from the cost-benefit viewpoint.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.405-412
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• 2022

Although modern medicine has made great strides in the management of burn injuries, associated complications such as pain, infection, dyspigmentation, and scarring have yet to be fully dealt with. Although skin grafting and meshing are routinely performed on burn patients, this method poses a risk for adverse effects. Activated autologous platelet-rich plasma (aaPRP), which is increasingly used in the field of plastic surgery, contains growth factors beneficial for wound regeneration. Seven cases of burns with varying severity and conditions that were treated with intralesional subcutaneous injection and intravenous aaPRP are presented and discussed herein. This case series indicates that subcutaneous and intravenous aaPRP is a safe procedure with the potential to be an alternative when skin grafting cannot be done or as an adjunct treatment to skin grafting.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.829-835
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• 2011

Purpose: The two major concerns in skin grafting are poor color match in the recipient site and the donor site morbidity. And, glabrous skin on the palmar aspect of the hands and plantar aspect of the feet attributes define the skin on the palm and fingers sole as functionally and aesthetically different from skin on other parts of the body. When there is a glabrous skin defect, it should be replaced with similar skin to restore function and aesthetics. The palmar crease areas were used to minimize these problems. The purpose of this study is to present the precise surgical technique of the full thickness skin graft using distal palmar and midpalmar creases for aesthetic better outcome for hand injuries. Methods: From May 2006 to April 2010, 10 patients with 11 defects underwent glabrous full thickness skin grafting of finger defects. Causes included seven machinery injuries, two secondary burn reconstructions, and one knife injury. Donor sites included ten glabrous full thickness skin graft from the distal palmar crease and one from the midpalmar crease. Results: Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 24 months. All glabrous skin grafts demonstrated complete taking the recipient sites and no incidence of the complete or partial loss. The donor site healed without complications, and there were no incidences of significant hypopigmantation, hyperpigmentation, or hypertrophic scarring. Conclusion: The important aspects of this method involve immediate return of glabrous skin to the defect site and restoration of the recipient site's crease by simple primary closure from adjacent skin. The glabrous skin of the palm provides the best tissue match for the reconstruction of the hands, but only a limited amount of tissue is available for this purpose. Full thickness skin grafting using palmar crease of the defects is the ideal way of reconstructing glabrous skin to restore both function and aesthetics and minimize donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2018

Background The free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has been widely used for various kinds of reconstructions. However, delayed healing at the donor site occasionally occurs due to wound dehiscence or the partial loss of grafted skin at the donor site. The aim of the present study was to identify reliable predictive factors for delayed healing at the donor site after the harvest of a free ALT flap. Methods This study included 52 patients who underwent reconstructive procedures using free ALT flaps. The delayed healing group included patients with wounds at the donor site that had not healed over 3 weeks after surgery, and the normal healing group included patients who showed wound healing within 3 weeks after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression models were created to identify the risk factors for delayed healing at the ALT flap donor site. Results Among the 52 patients, 24 (46.2%) showed delayed healing at the donor site, and 6 patients required additional operative treatment. A high preoperative body mass index (BMI), smoking, and skin grafting were found to be significantly associated with delayed healing at the ALT donor site. Of the 37 patients who underwent skin grafting, 23 (62%) experienced delayed healing at the donor site. Conclusions A high preoperative BMI, smoking, and skin grafting were risk factors for delayed healing at the free ALT donor site. Skin grafting at the ALT donor site should be avoided in patients with a high BMI or a habit of smoking.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 2024

Background Skin defects in the hands are common injuries, and autologous skin grafting is the ideal treatment. However, complications can occur at the donor and recipient sites. This study compares the "Swing-door" technique with conventional skin grafting. Methods From August 2019 to February 2023, 19 patients with skin defects of hand underwent the "Swing-door" split-thickness skin graft (STSG) technique. The thin epithelial layer was elevated with proximal part attached. Skin graft was harvested beneath. Donor site was then closed with epithelial flap like a "Swing-door". The outcomes were evaluated in terms of healing time, scar formation, and pain at the donor and recipient sites. The data were compared with the conventional STSG. Results The "Swing-door" group had lower graft take percentages, but complications did not significantly differ between the two groups. The "Swing-door" technique resulted in better cosmetic outcomes, as evidenced by lower Vancouver Scar Scale scores, faster donor site epithelialization, and reduced pain and discomfort during the early postoperative period, as measured by Visual Analog Scale. Conclusion The "Swing-door" STSG is a useful alternative for treating hand skin defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.150-158
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• 2015

Background Fat is widely used in soft tissue augmentation. Nevertheless, it has an unpredictably high resorption rate. Clinically, external expansion with negative pressure is used to increase fat graft survival. In this study, fat graft recipient sites were preconditioned by external application of negative pressure in order to test for improvements in vascularity and fat graft survival. Methods Negative pressure was applied randomly to either the left or right dorsal ear of 20 New Zealand male white rabbits at a pressure of -125 mm Hg. The negative pressure was removed one week after the skin perfusion was measured. The skin flap at each ear was elevated, and 1 g of fat was grafted above the dorsal perichondrium. After one week, the fat weight, microvessel density, mature vessel density of the skin and fat, and amount of glycerol released were measured. Three months after the grafting, the same measurements were performed, with the exception of glycerol release. Results The fat survival rate of the experimental group ($75.4%{\pm}3.9%$) was higher than that of the control group ($53.1%{\pm}4.3%$) (P<0.001). Skin perfusion was higher in the experimental group. The glycerol release in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control. The microvessel density of the skin and fat was significantly higher in the experimental group. Three months after the grafting, the skin and fat mature vessel density was significantly higher in the experimental groups. Conclusions Negative pressure prior to fat grafting increased the vascularity of the recipient site, and, accordingly, enhanced fat graft survival.