• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2020

Background: Oncologic resection of the scalp confers several obstacles to the reconstructive surgeon dependent upon patient-specific and wound-specific factors. We aim to describe our experiences with various reconstructive methods, and delineate risk factors for coverage failure and complications in the setting of scalp reconstruction. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted, examining patients who underwent resection of fungating scalp tumors with subsequent soft-tissue reconstruction from 2003 to 2019. Patient demographics, wound and oncologic characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 189 patients were appropriate for inclusion, undergoing a range of reconstructive methods from skin grafting to free flaps. Thirty-three patients (17.5%) underwent preoperative radiation. In all, 48 patients (25.4%) suffered wound site complications, 25 (13.2%) underwent reoperation, and 47 (24.9%) suffered from mortality. Preoperative radiation therapy was an independent risk factor for wound complications (odds ratio [OR], 2.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-7.3; p=0.028) and reoperations (OR, 4.45; 95% CI, 1.5-13.2; p=0.007). Similarly, the presence of an underlying titanium mesh was an independent predictor of wound complications (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.1-5.6; p=0.029) and reoperations (OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.2-9.7; p=0.020). Both immunosuppressed status (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.2-7.1; p=0.021) and preoperative radiation therapy (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.2-9.7; p=0.022) were risk factors for mortality. Conclusion: Both preoperative radiation and the presence of underlying titanium mesh are independent risk factors for wound site complications and increased reoperation rates following oncologic resection and reconstruction of the scalp. Additionally, preoperative radiation, along with an immunosuppressed state, may predict patient mortality following scalp resection and reconstruction.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2004

Osteoporosis is a clinical condition in which the amount of bone tissue is reduced and the likelihood of fracture is increased. It is known that the electrical property of the bone is related to its density, and, in particular, the electrical resistance of the bone decreases as the bone loss increases. This implies that the electrical property of bone may be an useful parameter to diagnose osteoporosis, provided that it can be readily measured. The study attempted to evaluate the electrical conductivity of bone using a technique of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). It nay not be easy in general to get an EIT for the bone due to the big difference (an order of 2) of electrical properties between the bone and the surrounding soft tissue. In the present study, we took an adaptive mesh regeneration technique originally developed for the detection of two phase boundaries and modified it to be able to reconstruct the electrical conductivity inside the boundary provided that the geometry of the boundary was given. Numerical simulation was carried out for a tibia phantom, circular cylindrical phantom (radius of 40 mm) inside of which there is an ellipsoidal homeogenous tibia bone (short and long radius are 17 mm and 15 mm, respectively) surrounded by the soft tissue. The bone was located in the 15 mm above from the center of the circular cross section of the phantom. The electrical conductivity of the soft tissue was set to be 4 mS/cm and varies from 0.01 to 1 ms/cm for the bone. The simulation considered measurement errors in order to look into its effects. The simulated results showed that, if the measurement error was maintained less than 5 %, the reconstructed electrical conductivity of the bone was within 10 % errors. The accuracy increased with the electrical conductivity of the bone, as expected. This indicates that the present technique provides more accurate information for osteoporotic bones. It should be noted that tile simulation is based on a simple two phase image for the bone and the surrounding soft tissue when its anatomical information is provided. Nevertheless, the study indicates the possibility that the EIT technique may be used as a new means to detect the bone loss leading to osteoporotic fractures.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2017

Defects due to mandibulectomy often cause hard and soft tissue loss and result in esthetic problems and functional disorders such as mastication, swallowing, and pronunciation. After the mandibular reconstruction, several complications including loss of alveolar bone can cause limitations in maintenance or supporting of removable prosthesis. For these patients, implant-supported fixed restorations have been an appropriate prosthetic restorative method. In this case report, we report the patient who underwent mandibulectomy and mandibular reconstruction owing to oral cancer, and then restored the current dentition functionally and aesthetically by applying zirconia frameworks and monolithic zirconia crowns by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2013

Background: In cleft lip patients, the necessity of a thorough preoperative analysis of facial deformities before reconstruction is unquestioned. The surgical plan of cleft lip patient is based on the information gained from our preoperative anthropometric evaluation. A variety of commercially available three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging systems are currently introduced to us in plastic surgery for these use. However, few studies have been published on the soft tissue morphology of unrepaired cleft infants described by these 3D surface imaging systems. Methods: The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of facial anthropometric measurements obtained through digital 3D photogrammetry and to compare with direct anthropometry for measurement in unilateral cleft lip patients. We compared our patients with three measurements of dimension made on both sides: heminasal width, labial height, and transverse lip length. Results: The preoperative measurements were not significantly different in both side of labial height and left side of heminasal width. Statistically significant differences were found on both side of transverse lip length and right side of heminasal width. Although the half of preoperative measurements were significantly different, trends of results showed average results were comparable. Conclusion: This is the first study in Korea to simultaneously compare digital 3D photogrammetry with traditional direct anthropometry in unilateral cleft lip patients. We desire this study could contribute the methodological choice of the many researchers for proper surgical planning in cleft lip reconstruction field.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.131-136
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• 2004

Osseointegration involves anchoring dental implants to stable bone rather than to soft-tissue. Clinical osseointegration is currently defined as the process whereby alloplastic material is asymptomatically and rigidly fixed and maintained in bone during functional loading. Full osseointegration is necessary for the success of long-term dental implants. Recent developments in computer assisted measurement of bone formation have improved maxillofacial examination and osseointegration. Computer assisted examination has also proved effective in dental implantology. This investigation was aimed to determine osseointegration in immediate and delayed implantation in the dog mandible using dental computed tomography (CT) and bone scintigraphy. Five adult (mean age of 2 years) mongrel dogs with a mean weight of 9.1 kg were used in this investigation. Titanium alloy implant systems with 4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length were chosen for insertion. The second and third left mandibular premolars in each dog were extracted for the delayed implant insertion. Twelve weeks later, the second and third right mandibular premolars were extracted for the immediate implant insertion. Before the delayed and immediate implantation procedures and 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the insertions, dental CT and scintigraphy were conducted. The CT and scintigraphic images indicate that reconstruction of bone surrounding of the immediate implant can be as successful as reconstruction of bone surrounding of the delayed implant.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2012

Purpose: To reconstruct the midface, local flaps such as nasolabial flaps have been frequently used. These local flaps, however, have the shortcomings of requiring a secondary operation or limitations in the movement of the flap. Thus, new methods have been developed. This paper reports a case wherein the basal cell carcinoma on the cheek was resected and the skin and soft tissue defect was successfully treated using a facial artery perforator flap. Methods: A 68-year-old female consulted the authors on the basal cell carcinoma that developed on her cheek. The mass was fully resected and revealed a $2.3{\times}2.3cm$ defective region. Using a Doppler ultrasonography, the facial artery path was traced, and using a loupe magnification, the facial artery perforator flap was elevated and the defective region was covered with the flap. Results: The flap developed early venous congestion, but it disappeared without any treatment. Six months after the surgery, the patient was satisfied with the postoperative result. Conclusion: The facial artery perforator flap has a thin pedicle. It offers a big arc of the rotation that allows free movement and one-stage operation. These strengths make the method useful for the reconstruction of the midface among other procedures.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.45.1-45.8
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• 2015

Background: Radial forearm free flap is the most reliable flap for intraoral soft tissue reconstruction after cancer ablation surgery. However, unesthetic scar of the donor site and the need for a second donor site for skin graft are major disadvantages of the forearm flap. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical results of double-layered collagen graft to the donor site of the forearm free flap without skin graft. Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent oral cancer ablation and forearm reconstruction between April 2010 and November 2013 were included in this study. Male to female ratio was 12:10, and average age was 61.0 years old (27-84). Double-layered collagen was grafted to the donor site of the forearm free flap and healed for secondary intention. Upper silicone had been trimmed at the periphery during secondary intention, and dry dressing was used. Postoperative scar healing and esthetic results and function were evaluated. Results: An average follow-up period was 34.9 months. The scar area was decreased to 63.9 % in average. The complete healing was obtained between 1.5 and 3 months according to the defect size. There was no functional defect or impairment 3 months after operation. All patients were satisfied with the esthetic results. Three patients died of recurred cancer. Conclusions: Double-layered collagen graft was successfully performed in this study. Without the thigh skin graft, patients had experienced less painful postoperative healing periods and discomfort.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 2008

Purpose: Currently, using perforator artery flaps especially anterolateral thigh flaps are widely used for reconstruction of extremities, head and neck. Obtaining a precise anatomical picture prior to operation will translate to a more accurate, efficient and safe procedure. Authors used 3D-image work up via 64-slice MDCT to make a more precise preoperative plan. Methods: A total of 10 patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction with anterolateral thigh flap from December 2006 to December 2007. The 64-Channel MDCT (LightSpeed VCT, GE, USA) was used and 3D images were reconstructed. Findings from MDCT were applied to the preoperative planning and confirmed with intraoperative findings. Results: The average number of perforator arteries from lateral circumflex femoral artery was 2. The average lengths of vascular pedicle from the origin of lateral circumflex femoral artery to the first and second perforator artery were 11.0 cm and 20.0 cm, respectively. The average diameter of the pedicle artery was 2.2 mm. The locations of the perforator arteries were mapped and localized on the body surface based on the MDCT result. These were confirmed through direct visualization intraoperatively. Conclusion: MDCT has an advantage of obtaining accurate images of the general anatomy and even fine structures like perforator arteries. By using this state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technique, it is now possible to make an operative plan safely and easily.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2013

Background: Sternal dehiscence is one of the most troublesome complications following cardiac surgery. Treatment failure and consequent lethal outcomes are very common. The aim of this study was to evaluate titanium plate fixation as a treatment for sternal dehiscence following major cardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: Between 2010 and 2012, 17 patients underwent sternal reconstruction using horizontal titanium plating for the treatment of post-cardiac-surgery sternal dehiscence. The plates were cut and shaped, and then were fixed to corresponding costal segments using 2-3 titanium screws per each side. Results: The median age of our patients was 66 years (range, 50 to 78 years) and 9 were female. Indications for sternal reconstruction included aseptic sternal dehiscence in 3 patients and osteomyelitis in 14 patients including 6 patients who were diagnosed with mediastinitis. During the operation, sternal resection and autologous flap interposition were combined in 11 patients. One patient died due to sepsis. Two patients required additional soft tissue wound revisions. Another patient presented with a tuberculous wound infection which was resolved using anti-tuberculosis medications. The postoperative course was uncomplicated in the other 13 patients. Conclusion: Titanium plate fixation that combines appropriate debridement and flap interposition is very effective for the treatment of sternal dehiscence following major cardiac surgery.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2008

Segmental defects of the tibia after open fractures, sepsis and a tumor surgery are among the most difficult and challenging clinical problems. Tibia defects in these situations are complicated with infection and are resistant to conventional bone grafting techniques. The aim of this study is to report the results and discuss the role of free flap followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition (IVFT) for reconstruction of tibia defects. Ten patients had free flap followed by IVFT in the period 1989~2007. Mean age was 25.3 years. The patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years. All flaps were survived including 1 case with venous thrombosis requiring additional surgery. The average time to union of proximal and distal end was 5.2 months, 8.2 months, each other. All transposed fibula were viable at last follow-up. IVFT offers the advantages of a vascularized graft. In patients with large bone and soft tissue defects combined with infection, free flap followed by IVFT is an useful and reliable method without microvascular anastomosis.