• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.84-91
• /
• 1999

The female breast is a potent symbol of maternity, sexuality, and feminity. Unfortunately, the frequency of breast cancer and mastectomy are increasing in Korea, so the reconstruction of breast becomes a important surgical procedure. The purpose of this study is to analyze the results of breast reconstruction using free TRAM flap and to suggest the operative techniques for more successful results. This study is based on a series of 39 cases of breast reconstruction using free TRAM flap in mastectomized patients. Among these cases, 21 patients underwent immediate reconstruction and 18 patients underwent delayed reconstruction. 2 patients underwent immediate bilateral reconstruction. The postoperative courses of these cases are uneventful. Breast reconstruction following mastectomy is one of the most challenging problems in plastic surgery. Nowadays the free TRAM flap is accepted as an excellent method of autogenous tissue breast reconstruction. We conclude that this technique has advantages as follows. The free TRAM flap has not associated with the complications of implant-based reconstruction. It provides sufficient volume for ptotic and natural breast, easily concealed donor site, and secondary aesthetic benefit of abdominoplasty. Unlike conventional pedicled TRAM flap, it has superiority in blood supply, and can make liberal setting of flap and sparing of rectus muscle. So it can provide more satisfaction about the final result of breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.110-113
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The jejunal free flap is the most standard and reliable procedure of reconstruction of the circumferential pharyngoesophageal defect because it provides pliable, elastic, secreting mucosa and posses reliable vascular anatomy. In this report, the authors introduce the modification of jejunal free flap for decreasing the complications in fatty complicated patients. Method: After harvesting the jejunum with mesentery and mesenteric vessels, both ends of jejunum were excised remaining the mesenteric portion. The jejunal portion of this composite flap was placed to reconstruct esophagopharyngeal defect area and the mesenteric portion was used to obliterate the dead space at paratracheal region and to cover the vital structure and the vascular anastomotic region. Result: A 72 year-old man with recurrent hypopharyngeal cancer who had about 15 cm sized circumferential pharyngoesophageal defect after total pharyngectomy was reconstructed with jejunomesenteric composite free flap without any complications. Conclusion: The mesenteric flaps at both side of jejunomesenteric composite free flap provide the advantages that could obliterate dead space, that could provide cover for the vital cervical vascular structure in case of vascularity was compromised due to previous radiation therapy, and that could preserve as much vascularity at both ends of jejunal flap as possible.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.18-23
• /
• 2005

Purpose: To report the results and the efficacy of the sensory bearing scapular free flap which is known as non-sensible flap. Materials and Methods: Authors underwent 24 cases of sensory bearing scapular free flap to the hands and feet from March 1995 to November 2002. average follow-up period was six year three months. The used flaps were a ordinary scapular flap in fifteen cases, and a parascapular flap in nine. Sensibility of the flaps were checked every one month. Actual sensory evaluation was mostly depends on objective feeling of the patients. Two point discrimination test was performed in all cases. Results: 23 flaps had good skin circulation after microvascular anastomosis among 24. Objective deep touch sensation were observed about three months later after the operation in three cases, between three and six months in nine. In three case whose results were excellent than others, two point discrimination was 2.7 cm at last follow-up. Most of the sensory recovery is confined in deep touch, temperature and light touch sensation was recovered limitedly in 3 cases during our follow-up period. Conclusion: Authors can propose that sensory bearing free scapular flap was considered as one of useful methods for the reconstruction to hand with soft tissue defect and mutilating hand.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.42-49
• /
• 2005

Between June 1989 and may 2004 Ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition was performed on nine patients with segmental tibial defects combined with infection following trauma. Ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft was performed on two or three stage according to the degree of infection. Initially free vascular pedicled graft was done followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft. Type of free flap used is scapular free flap 3 cases, latissimus dorsi free flap 5 cases and dorsalis pedis flap 1 cases. The patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years. the average time to union was 6.7 months, and in all patients the graft healed in spite of complication. Complication was free flap venous thrombosis in 1 cases, persistent infection in 1 cases, delayed bony union at the distal end of fibular graft in 2 cases. The results showed that more faster bony union was seen in which cases firmly internally fixated and more faster hypertrophy of graft in which cases was permitted to ambulate on early weight bearing and more faster healing in which cases debrided more meticulously. Reconstruction of tibia defect with free flap followed by Ipsilateral fibular transposition is a useful and safe method to avoid the potential risk of infection for patients with tibial large bone defect and soft tissue defect associated with infection.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.101-104
• /
• 2014

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the knee has always been a challenging task for plastic surgeons. Various reconstructive choices are available depending on the location, size, and depth of the defect relative to the knee joint. Defects on the knee joint have several characteristic features. The use of a free flap is preferred for reconstructions involving obliteration of large-cavity defects, but recipient pedicle isolation can be difficult because of the extent of the injury zone. Furthermore, the true defect during knee joint flexion is larger than during knee joint extension, and a durable flap is necessary for joint movement. We report for the first time on the use of pedicled perforator flaps for reconstruction of bilateral knee defects in a 76-year-old woman. The operative procedure required skeletonizing the perforators of an antero-lateral thigh flap and antero-medial thigh flap and rotating the flap in the defect. The patient returned to normal daily activity and had a full range of motion two months after the accident. The shorter operating time with decreased donor site morbidity and its durability make this flap a valuable alternative for soft tissue reconstruction of the knee.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.257-260
• /
• 2012

This report describes the use of a tubularized random flap for the curative treatment of recurrent anterior urethral stricture. Under the condition of pendulous lithotomy and suprapubic cystostomy, the urethral stricture was removed via a midline ventral penile incision followed by elevation of the flap and insertion of an 18-Fr catheter. Subcutaneous buried interrupted sutures were used to reapproximate the waterproof tubularized neourethra and to coapt with the neourethra and each stump of the urethra, first proximally and then distally. The defect of the penile shaft was covered by advancement of the surrounding scrotal flap. The indwelling catheter was maintained for 21 days. A 9 month postoperative cystoscopy showed no flap necrosis, no mechanical stricture, and no hair growth on the lumen of the neourethra. The patient showed no voiding discomfort 6 months after the operation. The advantages of this procedure are the lack of need for microsurgery, shortening of admission, the use of only spinal anesthesia (no general anesthesia), and a relatively short operative time. The tubularized unilateral penile fasciocutaneous flap should be considered an option for initial flap urethroplasty as a curative technique.

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

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.38-41
• /
• 2013

A 31-year-old female patient presented with a skin and soft tissue defect measuring $8{\times}6cm$ in size with exposure of the extensor hallucis longus tendon and the first metatarsal bone after metatarsal lengthening for brachymetatarsia. The defect was covered with a distally based dorsalis pedis flap based on the distal communicating branch of the dorsalis pedis artery. Secondary defect was covered by a split thickness skin graft. There was congestion of the flap tip after the operation; however, it was resolved using medical leeches and anti-coagulants. No necrosis or infection was encountered and the contour of the flap was satisfactory. There was no donor site morbidity. Reverse dorsalis pedis flap has not been commonly used due to the anatomical variation and uncertainty, which is different from the reverse radial forearm flap. However, when faced with the challenge of a moderate soft tissue defect of the distal forefoot, we believe that the reverse dorsalis pedis flap offers a good option with various advantages.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2010

Vomer flap is used to repair anterior hard palate in complete cleft lip and palate patients. As the midline structure located in between the two cleft segments of hard palate, the vomer flap is very useful because of its vicinity to cleft site and their ease of execution when it is done with primary cheiloplasty simultaneously. In addition, the quality of tissue is very similar to that of the nasal mucosa with good vascularity. In cases of simultaneous repair of cleft lip with anterior palate using vomer flap, the hard palate can be repaired at the same time with primary cheiloplasty which is earlier period than other techniques. With simultaneous close of cleft lip and cleft hard palate by vomer flap, subsequent palatoplasty does not require wide dissection, and consequently chance of oronasal fistula formation will be minimized. Additionally, surgical time will be reduced and, the harmful effects on mid-facial growth will be diminished. In this article, we will introduce the comprehensive vomer flap technique with primary lip closure and review the comparative studies of the outcome of simultaneous repair of cleft lip and cleft hard palate with vomer flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.775-778
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Reconstruction of soft tissue defects with osteomyelitis in the lower third of the leg represents a challenge to plastic surgeons. Moreover, it is more arduous in multimorbid patients. One excellent option for reconstruction of these defects is to use a delayed distally based sural flap. Methods: We successfully used delayed distally based sural flap with a two-step procedure. During the first operation, radical debridement and elevation of flap were performed. The raised flap was fixed again at the donor site. The delay period ranged from seven to ten days. Between August 2008 and July 2009, we underwent operations for five patients using this technique. The size of flap varied from $10{\times}6\;cm$ to $12{\times}14\;cm$. Results: All flaps successfully survived. Partial skin loss of the grafted site was seen in two patients but no further surgical procedure was required for wound healing. Complaints of hypoesthesia on the lateral part of the foot was observed. In a three month follow-up period, hypoesthesia was resolved spontaneously. Conclusion: Delayed procedure improves the viability of distally based sural flap in high risk, critically multimorbid patients. We recommend that, if a two-stage operative approach is required, the delayed procedure should be considered.