• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 2011

Traditional management of comminuted tibia fractures with massive bone and soft tissue defect includes soft tissue coverage and bone grafting. However, this method requires a large flap and a substantial amount of bone graft. Acute shortening can reduce the amount of required soft tissue and bone graft. We report a case of open tibia and fibula fracture with severe bone and soft tissue defect that was successfully treated by acute shortening of the tibia with immediate fibular strut bone graft and then by gradual lengthening of the tibia at its proximal metaphysis.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 1999

Reconstruction of soft tissue defect of the foot, ankle and distal tibial area has been and remains a challenging problem for reconstructive surgeons. We treated 19 patients who showed soft tissue defect in these area with distally based superficial sural artery flaps, including four adipofascial flaps, two sensate flaps. The size of the soft tissue defect was from $4{\times}5cm\;to\;8{\times}10cm$. In nine cases, we preserved sural nerve. Seventeen flaps survived completely, but one flap failed and another flap showed partial skin necrosis at the distal half. In failed cases, lesser saphenous vein was ruptured at initial injury. The advantage of this flap is a constant and reliable blood supply without sacrifice of major artery or sensory nerve. Elevation of the flap is technically easy and quick. The pedicle is long and the island flap can be transffered as far as to the instep area. It also has the potential for sensate flap, innervated by the lateral sural cutaneous nerve. But for appropriate venous drainage small saphenous vein must be preserved.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2015

A child sustained a car tire friction injury and had multiple soft tissue wounds. She had a severe soft tissue defect in the medial foot and ankle aspect which requiring flap coverage. We performed an adipoafscial flap with upside-down pattern for the treatment of the medial foot and ankle soft tissue posttraumatic defect. The flap is based on the perforator artery from the posterior tibial artery. Because it gave a thin coverage for the foot, the patient could walk with normal foot wear.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2014

Purpose: Anteromedial surface of the leg is susceptible to trauma, which frequently induces soft tissue defect. When the size of a soft tissue defect is small to moderate, a local muscle flap is an easy and reliable alternative to a free flap. The authors performed medial hemisoleus flaps for reconstruction of soft tissue defects on the anteromedial surface of legs. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and effectiveness of the medial hemisoleus flap. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients underwent the medial hemisoleus flap for reconstruction of a soft tissue defect on the anteromedial surface of the leg from February 2009 to December 2013. There were eight males and four females with a mean age of 47.8 years (15 to 69 years). The mean size of defects was $4.7{\times}4.2cm$ ($2{\times}2$ to $9{\times}6cm$). Flap survival and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: Mean follow-up period was 39.6 months (7 to 64 months) and all flaps survived. There were two cases of negligible necrosis of distal margin of the flap, which were healed after debridement. All patients were capable of full weight bearing ambulation at the last follow-up. Conclusion: The medial hemisoleus flap is a simple, reliable procedure for treatment of a small to moderate sized soft tissue defect on the anteromedial surface of the leg.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.105-108
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• 2006

Open calcaneal fractures are potentially devastating hindfoot injuries, in which the status of soft tissue envelope is very important. The reversed adipofascial flap has a merit of simplicity and minimal complication compared to free tissue transfer. We report of a case of open calcaneal fracture with soft tissue defect of hindfoot, which was successfully treated with reversed adipofascial flap.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2014

Purpose: Soft tissue defect on foot and ankle is vulnerable and requires a thin flap for improvement of aesthetic and functional results. Lateral supramalleolar flap is a simple and fast procedure, which can preserve and supply reliable constant blood flow, and causes fewer donor site complications. The authors reviewed our cases and report the clinical results. Materials and Methods: Ten cases of soft tissue defects on the lower leg, around the ankle were treated with lateral supramalleolar flap. There were seven males and three females with a mean age of 54.8 years. The mean size of flaps was $5.9{\times}6.3$ cm and the mean follow-up period was 23 months. Flap survival and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: Nine flaps survived completely without loss of flap. There was one case of partial wound dehiscence requiring debridement and repair, and another case of necrotic flap change requiring partial bone resection and closure. All patients were capable of weight bearing ambulation at the last follow up. Conclusion: The authors suggest that the lateral supramalleolar flap could be a useful option for treatment of soft tissue defect around the ankle joint.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-62
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to report on the results and discuss the role of free flap followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition (IVFT) for reconstruction of large bone and soft tissue defect combined with infection by open tibia fracture. Materials and Methods: During the research period, lasting from December 2002 to June 2008 (Kyung Hee University Medical Center), data were collected from three patients who underwent IVFT after free flap. We analyzed the successiveness and persistency of the infection using free flapping, bone union, and hypertrophy between transposed fibula and tibia. Results: Regarding free flap, successive results were observed in all examples. In the final follow-up results, transposed fibulas all survived, having hypertrophy similar to that of adjacent tibia. Conclusion: Reconstruction of tibia defect with free flap followed by IVTF is a useful and safe method for avoidance of the potential risk of infection for patients with a large tibial bone defect and soft tissue defect associated with infection.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2014

Purpose: Soft tissue reconstruction is essential for recovery of finger function and aesthetics in any traumatic defect. The authors applied a reverse homodigital artery island flap for soft tissue defect on distal part of digits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure. Materials and Methods: Seven cases of soft tissue defects of finger tip were included in this study. There were six male and one female, mean age was 43 years and mean follow-up period was 38 months. The length of flaps ranged from 2.0 to 2.5 cm and width ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 cm. Flap survival, postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: All flaps survived without loss. Donor sites were repaired with primary closure in five cases and skin graft in two cases. None of the patients showed significant complications and their average finger motion was $255^{\circ}$ in total active motion at the last follow-up. Conclusion: The authors suggest that the reverse homodigital artery island flap could be a versatile treatment option for the soft tissue defect on distal part of digits.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.113-115
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• 2011

We present our experience of reconstruction of inguinal soft tissue defect following inguinal lymphadenectomy, because of penile squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant infiltration required wide resection, producing a defect requiring complex soft tissue reconstruction. We have used a pedicled anterolateral thigh flap as our first choice flap for this case. Patient achieved reasonable esthetic coverage. Complications were few and patient achieved durable long term coverage. We found this flap to be technically easy, reliable and effective.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2023

Purpose: The reconstruction of defects around the knee and the proximal third of the leg necessitates thin, pliable skin with a stable and sensate soft tissue cover. This study analyzed the use of a proximally based sural artery flap for the coverage of such defects. Methods: This prospective clinical interventional study involved 10 patients who had soft tissue defects over the knee and the proximal third of the leg. These patients underwent reconstruction with a proximally based sural artery flap. The study analyzed various factors including age, sex, etiology, location and presentation of the defect, defect dimensions, flap particulars, postoperative complications, and follow-up. Results: There were 10 cases, all of which involved men aged 20 to 65 years. The most common cause of injury was trauma resulting from road traffic accidents. The majority of defects were found in the proximal third of the leg, particularly on the anterolateral aspect. Defect dimensions varied from 6×3 to 15×13 cm², and extensive defects as large as 16 cm×14 cm could be covered using this flap. The size of the flaps ranged from 7×4 to 16×14 cm², and the pedicle length was 10 to 15 cm. In all cases, donor site closure was achieved with split skin grafting. This flap consistently provided a thin, pliable, stable, and durable soft tissue cover over the defect with no functional deficit and minimal donor site morbidity. Complications, including distal flap necrosis and donor site graft loss, were observed in two cases. Conclusions: The proximally based sural fasciocutaneous flap serves as the primary method for reconstructing medium to large soft tissue defects around the knee and the proximal third of the leg. This technique offers thin, reliable, sensate, and stable soft tissue coverage, and can cover larger defects with minimal complications.