• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.88-92
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• 2010

The forefoot reconstruction is a challenging field for plastic surgeons. Weight bearing tolerability and stability are important factor of choosing reconstruction methods, but cosmetic aspect has to be considered. 51 year old man visited our clinic with extensive degloving injury on right forefoot by roller. The soft tissue defect started from metatarsal area to the toe tip including nails. We harvested the anterolateral thigh flap and transferred it to the forefoot defect area with nerve coaptation. The flap was successful without skin necrosis or other complications. Secondary flap debulking surgery was performed after ten months from initial operation. Patient was satisfied with functional and cosmetic outcomes. The patient was able to wear shoes and walk with adequate sensory recovery. As there is few report about reconstruction of forefoot soft tissue defects, we report a unique case of the anterolateral thigh innervated free flap reconstruction in degloving injury.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한미세수술학회 1998년도 제18차 학술대회
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• pp.180-182
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• 1998

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.147-153
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• 2000

Soft tissue defects of the dorsum of foot and ankle can be covered from skin graft to free tissue transfer. The extent of injury which may be complex including the exposure of paratenons or bones requires free flap reconstruction. Some of the precautions for reconstruction are providing minimal bulkiness and well conforming to irregular contour thus making normal footwear possible. Though the muscle flap having its advantages and versatility, the fascial flap such as temporoparietal fascial flap has been considered the choice for reconstruction of the dorsum of foot and ankle. The purpose of our study is to utilize the advantages and versatility of the muscle flap as a first choice for reconstruction for the defects involving the dorsum of foot and ankle. The gracilis muscle with its anatomic and donor characteristics, it can be utilized to maximal effect by expanding its slim muscle width removing the epimysium and reducing its bulk by muscle atrophy through denervation. We present our experience with ten cases of reconstruction for the dorsum of foot and ankle using the gracilis muscle free flap. Results were satisfactory without flap loss, skin loss and infection. The contour and aesthetic aspect of the foot was satisfactory. Gait analysis showed near normal gait without limitations from everyday activities. Normal footwear was tolerable in all the cases. The keys to consider in the reconstruction of the dorsum of foot and ankle are appropriate bulkiness, conforming to its contour and able to apply normal footwear. With minimal donor morbidity and satisfying results, the extended gracilis muscle should be considered as the first line for reconstruction of the ankle and dorsum of foot.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.586-592
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• 2023

Background One-stage reconstruction with "thin perforator flaps" has been attempted to salvage limbs and restore function. The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is a commonly utilized flap in breast reconstruction (BR). The purpose of this study is to present the versatility of DIEP flaps for the reconstruction of large defects of the extremities. Methods Patients with large tissue defects on extremities who were treated with thin DIEP flaps from January 2016 to January 2018 were included. They were minimally followed up for 36 months. We analyzed the etiology and location of the soft tissue defect, flap design, anastomosis type, outcome, and complications. We also considered the technical differences in the DIEP flap between breast and extremity reconstruction. Results Overall, six free DIEP flaps were included in the study. The flap size ranged from 15 × 12 to 30 × 16 cm². All flaps were transversely designed similar to a traditional BR design. Three flaps were elevated with two perforators. Primary closure of the donor site was possible in all cases. Five flaps survived with no complications. However, partial necrosis occurred in one flap. Conclusion A DIEP flap is not the first choice for soft tissue defects, but it should be considered for one-stage reconstruction of large defects when the circulation zone of the DIEP flap is considered. In addition, this flap has many advantages over other flaps such as provision of the largest skin paddle, low donor site morbidity with a concealed scar, versatile supercharging technique, and a long pedicle.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.319-323
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• 2022

Total eyelid defect comprises full-thickness loss of both upper and lower eyelids in a patient. It is a rare and devastating condition with serious implications related to vision, which mandates early and functional reconstruction when associated with intact globe. The primary goal is to give a stable coverage for orbital protection but at the same time provide a functional reconstruction of the defect, to allow for adequate mobility of the eyelids so that the patient's vision is restored to normal with minimal disability. When the defect is massive, and in the absence of loco-regional flaps, microvascular tissue transfer is needed. In this report we describe a radial-artery-based microvascular tissue transfer with a unique innovation utilizing the contralateral frontalis muscle to reconstruct a case of unilateral total upper and lower eyelid loss.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.343-348
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• 2012

Treatment of hemifacial atrophy is a challenge for oral & maxillofacial surgeons. The surgical approach basically focused on skeletal correction so that the overlying soft tissues can be improved by the osseous change of the skeleton. However, the treatment ends up with insufficient soft tissue mophology in most cases even after skeletal correction. Therefore comprehensive hard and soft tissue reconstruction is needed for treating the hemifacial atrophy. In this case report, we experienced a successful result after combined orthognathic and microvascular adipofascial flap reconstruction for hemifacial atrophy patient.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.367-375
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• 2012

Background The anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap has become a popular option for treating soft tissue defects of lower extremity reconstruction and can be combined with a segment of the vastus lateralis muscle. We present a comparison of the use of the ALT fasciocutaneous (ALT-FC) and myocutaneous flaps. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients in whom free-tissue transfer was performed between 2005 and 2011 for the reconstruction of lower extremity soft-tissue defects. Twenty-four patients were divided into two groups: reconstruction using an ALT-FC flap (12 cases) and reconstruction using a vastus lateralis myocutaneous (VL-MC) flap (12 cases). Postoperative complications, functional results, cosmetic results, and donor-site morbidities were studied. Results Complete flap survival was 100% in both groups. A flap complication was noted in one case (marginal dehiscence) of the ALT-FC group, and no complications were noted in the VL-MC group. In both groups, one case of partial skin graft loss occurred at the donor site, and debulking surgeries were needed for two cases. There were no significant differences in the mean scores for either functional or cosmetic outcomes in either group. Conclusions The VL-MC flap is able to fill occasional dead space and has comparable survival rates to ALT-FC with minimal donor-site morbidity. Additionally, the VL-MC flap is easily elevated without myocutaneous perforator injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.835-838
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• 2010

Purpose: Reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the distal lower leg, especially in the distal third, largely depends on free tissue transfer and local fasciocutaneous flaps. But several local muscle flaps have also been proposed as useful alternative reconstructive manner. In this report, the authors present the successful use of the flexor digitorum longus muscle flaps in the distal lower leg reconstruction. Methods: Case 1: An 81-year-old woman with a dog bite wound in the left distal lower leg was admitted. She had a $10{\times}8\;cm$ wound with tibial exposure along the medial aspect of the leg. Soft tissue reconstruction with a flexor digitorum longus muscle flap and a split-thickness skin graft was performed. Case 2: A 77-year-old woman had a squamous cell carcinoma in the right distal lower leg. After wide excision, a $5{\times}4\;cm$ wound was developed with exposure of the tibia. The flexor digitorum longus muscle flap was transposed and covered with a split-thickness skin graft. Results: The flexor digitorum longus muscle flaps were shown to be useful to cover tibial defects in the distal lower leg. During the follow-up period, no significant donor site morbidity was found. Conclusion: The flexor digitorum longus muscle flap can be used to cover the exposed distal tibia, especially when a free tissue transfer is not an option. The relative ease of dissection and minimal functional deficits were the major advantages of this flap, while the extent of reach into the lower third has a limitation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.226-231
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• 2013

Background The reconstruction of volar surface defects is difficult because of the special histologic nature of the tissue involved. The plantar surface is the most homologous in shape and function and could be considered the most ideal of reconstructive options in select cases of volar surface defects. In this paper, we evaluate a single institutional case series of volar tissue defects managed with second toe plantar free flaps. Methods A single-institution retrospective review was performed on 12 cases of reconstruction using a second toe plantar free flap. The mean age was 33 years (range, 9 to 54 years) with a male-to-female ratio of 5-to-1. The predominant mechanism was crush injury (8 cases) followed by amputations (3 cases) and a single case of burn injury. Half of the indications (6 cases) were for soft-tissue defects with the other half for scar contracture. Results All of the flaps survived through the follow-up period. Sensory recovery was related to the time interval between injury and reconstruction-with delayed operations portending worse outcomes. There were no postoperative complications in this series. Conclusions Flexion contracture is the key functional deficit of volar tissue defects. The second toe plantar free flap is the singular flap whose histology most closely matches those of the original volar tissue. In our experience, this flap is the superior reconstructive option within the specific indications dictated by the defect size and location.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제35권3호
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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.