• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.246-253
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• 2021

In order to provide a physiological solution for patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), the surgeon must understand where and how the pathology of lymphedema occurred. Based on each patient's pathology, the treatment plan should be carefully decided and individualized. At the authors' institution, the treatment plan is made individually based on each patient's symptoms and relative factors. Most early-stage patients first undergo decongestive therapy and then, depending on the efficacy of the treatment, a surgical approach is suggested. If the patient is indicated for surgery, all the points of lymphatic flow obstruction are carefully examined. Thus a BCRL patient can be considered for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), a lymph node flap, scar resection, or a combination thereof. LVA targets ectatic superficial collecting lymphatics, which are located within the deep fat layer, and preoperative mapping using ultrasonography is critical. If there is contracture on the axilla, axillary scar removal is indicated to relieve the vein pressure and allow better drainage. Furthermore, removing the scars and reconstructing the fat layer will allow a better chance for the lymphatics to regenerate. After complete removal of scar tissue, a regional fat flap or a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap with lymph node transfer is performed. By deciding the surgical planning for BCRL based on each patient's pathophysiology, optimal outcomes can be achieved. Depending on each patient's pathophysiology, LVA, scar removal, vascularized lymph node transfer with a sufficient adipocutaneous flap, and simultaneous breast reconstruction should be planned.

• Medical Lasers
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.181-184
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• 2021

Scars can cause great psychological stress among patients. Currently, there are numerous topical agents, laser and surgical treatments available for skin rejuvenation and scar minimization. Laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD) is a treatment method that increases drug delivery by stimulating the skin physically and chemically to enhance the penetration of topical agents. This is one of the areas of great interest in the treatment of various skin diseases in addition to its use for cosmetic purposes. In particular, LADD is relatively non-invasive and has advantages in terms of accessibility and stability. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a collagen stimulator known to gradually restore skin volume by inducing inflammation and fibroplasia. Herein, we report a case of treatment of an atrophic scar with fractional carbon dioxide laser-assisted PLLA delivery.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.230-237
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• 2017

Background: The traditional approach for reduction of frontal sinus fractures is coronal incision. Inherent complications of the coronal approach include long scar, hair loss, and long operation time. We describe a simple approach for the reduction of frontal sinus anterior wall fractures using a suprabrow incision that is commonly used for brow lift. Methods: From March 2007 to October 2016, the authors identified patients with anterior wall frontal sinus fractures treated by open reduction through a suprabrow incision. Only cases with photographic/radiographic documentation and a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included. The incision line was designed to be at the upper margin of the eyebrow. Medical records and radiographic data were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical outcomes, cosmetic results, and complication were assessed. The patient scale of the patient and observer scar assessment scale was used to assess patient satisfaction for incisional scar at the 6-month follow-up. Results: Thirty-one patients underwent fracture reduction through a suprabrow approach during the study period, with a mean follow-up of 41 months. No patients showed any recurrent displacement, eyebrow asymmetry, or infection during follow-up. Thirteen patients reported their forehead paresthesia postoperatively, and 12 of them had preoperative symptom. One patient complained of incisional scar and underwent scar revision. All patients were satisfied with their eyebrow and forehead contour. Conclusion: The suprabrow approach allowed for an accurate reduction of the fractures in the anterior wall frontal sinus by providing direct visualization of the fracture. This transcutaneous approach can effectively restore forehead contour with acceptable postoperative complications and patient satisfaction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2021

Background In patients with congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN), single-stage removal of large lesions can be difficult because the high tension created by excising and repairing a large lesion may result in scar widening. Herein, we introduce a method to effectively excise lesions while minimizing scarring and compare its outcomes to those of existing surgical methods. Methods We compared patients who underwent surgery using the anchoring technique (n=42) or the conventional elliptical technique (n=36). One side of the lesion was removed via en bloc resection up to the superficial fascia. The other side of the lesion was removed via de-epithelialization. The de-epithelialized dermal flap was then fixed by suturing it to the superficial fascia on the opposite side. The length of the lesion's long axis and amount of scar widening were measured immediately after surgery and at 2, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. At 12 months, patients were assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. Results The lesion locations included the face, arms, legs, back, and abdomen. The anchoring method resulted in shorter and smaller scars than the conventional method. There were no cases of postoperative hematoma or wound dehiscence. Significant differences in postoperative scar widening were found in the arm and leg areas (P<0.05). Conclusions The anchoring method introduced in this study can provide much better outcomes than the conventional method. The anchoring method is particularly useful for the removal of CMN around the joints or extremities, where the surgical site is subjected to high tension.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.223-225
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• 2015

The closure of any circular or asymmetric wound can result in puckering or an excess of tissue known as a 'dog ear'. Understanding the mechanism of dog ear formation is a fundamental requirement necessary to facilitate an appropriate treatment. Many solutions have been reported in the literature, but in all cases, the correction entails the extension of the scar and the sacrifice of the dermal plexus. Here, we propose a novel technique of dog ear correction by using a three-bite suture that sequentially pierces the deep fascial plane and each dog ear's margin, thus allowing for flattening the dog ear by anchoring the over-projecting tissue to the deep plane. The three-bite technique proved to be a fast, easy, and versatile method of immediate dog ear correction without extending the scar, while maintaining a full and complete local skin blood supply.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• 제67권
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• pp.469-477
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• 2018

We describe surgical sutures enabled with the local, sustained delivery of a TGF-${\beta}$ inhibitory drug, tranilast. To fabricate drug-delivery sutures, we separately prepared a tranilast-loaded strand using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid), which was then physically braided with a surgical suture already in clinical use. By this method, the drug-delivery sutures maintained the mechanical strength and allowed the modulation of drug release profiles by simply altering the tranilast-loaded strand. The drug-delivery sutures herein released tranilast for up to 14 days. When applied to animal models, scarring was indeed reduced with diminished TGF-${\beta}$ expression and fibroblast numbers during the entire 21 day testing period.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.166-169
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• 2017

The goal of auricular cartilage harvest is to obtain a sufficient amount for reconstruction and to minimize the change in ear shape. The cartilage can be harvested by a posterior or anterior approach, and each method has advantages and disadvantages. The posterior approach presents the advantage of scar concealment, but there are limits to the amount of cymba cartilage that may be harvested. In contrast, the anterior approach may cause a noticeable scar. However, as cartilage is collected, the anterior approach provides a view that facilitates the preservation ear structure. In addition, it is possible to obtain a greater amount of cartilage. From January 2014 to December 2015, we harvested auricular cartilage graft material in 17 patients. To prevent the development of trapdoor scars or linear scar contracture, short incisions were made on the superior border of the cymba and cavum. Two small and narrow incisions were made, resulting in suboptimal exposure of the surgical site, which heightens the potential for damaging the cartilage when using existing tools. To minimize this, the authors used a newly invented ball-type elevator. All patients recovered without complications after surgery and reported satisfaction with the shape of the ear.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.453-456
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• 2017

Patients are increasingly seeking repair of their earlobes following ear gauging. Research has shown that current repair techniques either excessively reduce the lobular volume or leave an obvious scar along the free edge of the earlobe. In our case series, we describe the use of a novel technique for repairing earlobes following ear gauging using a rolling earlobe flap that preserves the lobular volume and avoids leaving a scar on the free edge of the lobule. The procedure was performed on 3 patients (6 earlobes) who had defects from ear gauging that ranged from 3.0 to 6.5 cm. There were no postoperative complications of infection, wound dehiscence, flap necrosis, hypertrophic scars, or keloids, and all patients were highly satisfied with the postoperative results. This versatile technique allows for an aesthetically pleasing reconstruction of the lobule with the advantages of: the absence of a surgical scar on the free edge of the lobule, preserving the lobule volume, and presenting a highly customizable technique that allows lobules to be created with various shapes and volumes.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.236-242
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• 2005

목적: 본 연구에서는 초기 유방암환자에서 보존적 수술 후 전자선을 이용한 추가방사선 조사 시 조사야의 범위 결정에 수술상흔 및 외과적 클립이 미치는 역할을 분석하였으며 이상적인 조사야 범위 결정방법을 제시하였다. 대상 및 방법: 조기 유방암 환자로 병소를 제거한 후 외과적 클립을 $4{\sim}7$개 삽입한 환자 20명을 대상으로 연구를 시행하였다. 전자선의 치료 에너지를 결정하기 위하여 피부에서부터 흉부벽까지의 거리(SCD)와 병변 조직의 가장 뒤쪽에 위치해 있는 클립까지의 거리를 측정하였다. 수술시 삽입된 클립들을 simulation 필름 상에서 연결하여 방사선학적 tumor bed로 정의하였다. 방사선 조사야의 범위는 3가지 방법에 의해 simulation 필름에 그렸다. 임상방사선 조사야(CF)는 수술 상흔 둘레로 3 cm의 여유를 주었고, 외과적방사선 조사야(SF)는 클립주위로 2 cm의 여유를 주었으며, 마지막으로 이상적 방사선조사야(IF)는 수술 상흔과 클립을 모두 포함하여 2 cm의 여유를 주었다. 그려진 조사야들의 면적을 측정하기 위하여 치료계획 컴퓨터에 입력되었고 측정된 면적을 비교하였다. 마지막으로 삽입된 클립들을 CT상에서 그려 넣었고 클립들의 3차원적인 선량분포를 알아보기 위해 선량체적표를 얻었다. 결과: SCD와 가장 깊이 삽입된 clip까지의 거리의 평균차이는 $0.7{\pm}0.56cm$이다. 12명의 환자의 경우 깊이의 차이가 있다. 수술 상흔과 클립들의 평균 위치의 변화는 상방으로 1.7 cm, 하방으로 1.2 cm, 내측으로 1.2 cm, 그리고 외측으로 0.9 cm이다. CF의 면적은 20명의 환자 중 6명의 경우 SF보다 크고 IF보다 크다. SF 와 IF의 면적 차이는 15의 환자에서 5%보다 작다. CF 조사야를 이용할 경우 15명의 환자들에 대해 1개 또는 3개의 클립들을 조사야 내에 포함하지 못하고 있다. 또한 클립들의 선량분포를 볼 때 17명의 환자들이 처방선량의 80% 미만을 받는 즉 선량적으로 부적절한 선량을 받는 클립들이 있었다. 결론: 수술 상흔을 중심으로 방사선 조사야 범위를 결정 할 경우 병변의 상하 부위를 적절히 포함하지 못하므로 병변 조직의 충분한 선량을 전달하지 못하였다. 외과적 클립만을 이용할 경우는 수술 상흔을 모두 포함하지 못하였다. 따라서 결론적으로 즉 수술 상흔과 외과적 클립을 모두 포함하는 본 기관에서 사용하는 방법으로 전자선 추가 조사야를 그린다면 정상조직의 부작용 및 지리상으로 병변조직의 빠트림을 최소화할 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.30-35
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• 2013

Background: For reconstruction of the mild to moderate medial orbital wall fractures, various surgical approaches have been used. Prior existing W-shaped incision was a direct local approach through a 3 cm incision on the superior medial orbital area with a titanium mesh implant. In this study, the authors modified W-shaped incision and reconstructed the defect with silastic sheet to improve the result and the postoperative scar. Methods: This study included 20 patients who had mild to moderate size of medial wall defect and therefore relatively suitable for reconstruction with silastic sheets from July, 2009 to December, 2011. A modified W-shaped skin incision approximately 1.2 to 1.5 cm in length was made along the superior medial orbital rim from approximately 1 cm medial to the medial canthus to the lower border of the medial eyebrow. The angles of the limbs of the W ranged from 150 to 160 degrees. Results: By using soft flexible silastic sheet, the authors reduced the incision from 3 to 1.5 cm, and by widening the angle of the W limbs, scars were more effectively hided in the relaxed skin tension line. Scar assessment was done with modified patient and observer scar assessment scale and mean score from patients was 2.08 and mean score from observers was 2.12. Conclusion: Although this method will not be suitable for every case, it can be a consistent method to obtain the surgical goal in treatment of mild to moderate blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall.