• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.523-528
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• 2023

The Gustilo IIIB tibiofibular fractures often result in long bone loss and extensive soft tissue defects. Reconstruction of these complex wounds is very challenging, especially when it includes long bone grafts, because the donor site is limited. We describe our experience using a set of chimeric ipsilateral vascularized fibula grafts with a thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap to reconstruct the traumatic tibia defects. A 66-year-old male suffered a severe comminuted tibia fracture and segmented fibula fracture with large soft tissue defects as a result of a traffic accident. He also had an open calcaneal fracture with soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral side. All the main vessels of the lower extremity were intact, and the cortical bone defect of the tibia was almost as large as the fractured fibula segment. We used an ipsilateral vascularized fibula graft to reconstruct the tibia and a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap to resurface the soft tissue, using the distal ends of peroneal vessels as named into sequential chimeric flaps. After 3 weeks, the calcaneal defect was reconstructed with second thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap. Reconstruction was successful and allowed rapid rehabilitation because of reduced donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.48-51
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• 2007

There could be several methods for trochanteric reconstruction including local flap, pedicled perforator flaps, free flap, etc. We performed greater trochanteric reconstruction with lumbar artery perforator free flap in some aberrant method. So we report this experience with review of literatures. A 42-year-old man visited our hospital with a large soft tissue defect in his left greater trochanteric area by traffic accident. The patient had wide skin and soft tissue defect combined with open femur fracture. During one month period of admission, he underwent femur open reduction and wound debridement four times. After that we planned thoracodorsal perforator free flap reconstruction. The flap was outlined as large as $20{\times}15\;cm$ and elevated in a suprafascial plane from the lateral border. During intramuscular perforator dissection, we found that two 1.5 mm diametered perforator vessels coursed inferomedially toward second lumbar region. Finally the flap became lumbar artery perforator flap based on second lumbar artery perforator as a main pedicle. After flap transfer, the perforator vessels were connected with inferior gluteal artery and vein microsurgically. The operation was successful without uneventful course. We found no significant postoperative complication and donor site morbidity during six months follow up periods. Lumbar artery perforator flap could be an alternative procedure for thoracodorsal perforator flap in some patients with anatomic variant features.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.44-48
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• 2009

Purpose: The treatment of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the face remains a difficult challenge in plastic surgery. Incomplete resection resulting in uncontrolled bleeding, postoperative enlargement of the remaining malformation, and a poor functional and cosmetic result could be the problems confronted by the surgeons. Methods: A 37 year-old male with large arteriovenous malformation in face treated with preoperative superselective transarterial embolization and free flap transfer. The size of the defect was $13{\times}9cm$. Sclerotheraphy without resection were performed several times but the results were unsatisfactory. Resection was performed the next day of embolization. We were able to repair with the thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap. And facial muscle reconstruction performed by simultaneous muscle and nerve transfer. Results: During the follow-up period 8 months the patient regained an acceptable cosmetic appearance. And he has shown no reexpansion of the malformation. Conclusion: The thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap could be a good choice for the reconstruction for massive defects of the face. A huge arteriovenous malformation could be safely removed and successfully reconstructed by the complete embolization, wide excision and coverage with a well vascularized tissue.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.354-359
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• 2012

Background During the planning of a thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) free flap, preoperative multidetector-row computed tomographic (MDCT) angiography is valuable for predicting the locations of perforators. However, CT-based perforator mapping of the thoracodorsal artery is not easy because of its small diameter. Thus, we evaluated 1-mm-thick MDCT images in multiple planes to search for reliable perforators accurately. Methods Between July 2010 and October 2011, 19 consecutive patients (13 males, 6 females) who underwent MDCT prior to TDAP free flap operations were enrolled in this study. Patients ranged in age from 10 to 75 years (mean, 39.3 years). MDCT images were acquired at a thickness of 1 mm in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. Results The thoracodorsal artery perforators were detected in all 19 cases. The reliable perforators originating from the descending branch were found in 14 cases, of which 6 had transverse branches. The former were well identified in the coronal view, and the latter in the axial view. The location of the most reliable perforators on MDCT images corresponded well with the surgical findings. Conclusions Though MDCT has been widely used in performing the abdominal perforator free flap for detecting reliable perforating vessels, it is not popular in the TDAP free flap. The results of this study suggest that multiple planes of MDCT may increase the probability of detecting the most reliable perforators, along with decreasing the probability of missing available vessels.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.599-602
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• 2019

We report a case of autologous breast reconstruction in which a thoracodorsal vessel was used as a recipient vessel after a hypoplastic internal mammary vessel was found on preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography. A 46-year-old woman with no underlying disease was scheduled to undergo skin-sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction using a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap. Preoperative CT angiography showed segmental occlusion of the right subclavian artery with severe atherosclerosis and calcification near the origin of the internal mammary artery, with distal flow maintained by collateral branches. The thoracodorsal artery was selected to be the recipient vessel because CT showed that it was of adequate size and was not affected by atherosclerosis. The patient experienced no postoperative complications, and the flap survived with no vascular complications. The breasts were symmetrical at a 6-month follow-up. This case highlights that preoperative vascular imaging modalities may help surgeons avoid using diseased vessels as recipient vessels in free flap breast reconstructions.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.487-490
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• 2008

Purpose: The latissimus dorsi flap and the serratus anterior flap have been used as combined flaps to reconstruct extensive defects. Because these two muscles are usually supplied by the subscapular-thoracodorsal vessels, the two flaps can be based on vascular pedicle that is long and anatomically reliable. In this case, we reported that serratus anterior possessed an anomalous arterial supply totally independent from the subscapular pedicle while raising combined latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior flap. Methods: A 35-year-old male with extensive soft tissue defect in the left perineum and thigh visited. Muscle defects of the medial thigh were observed, and femoral nerve and vessels were exposed. Combined latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior free flap was raised to reconstruct defect. On raising flaps, artery supplying the serratus anterior muscle originated from the axillary artery directly, was lying on the undersurface of the serratus anterior muscle. Results: Because two flap pedicles had no communication and latissimus dorsi muscle was large enough to cover soft tissue defect, we transferred only latissimus dorsi free flap with 1 : 3 meshed skin graft. Patient had limb salvage and satisfactory functional outcome. Conclusion: There are many variations of arterial pedicles of flaps. However, most of these variations remain within known anatomical consistence, thus is an indicator in planning the dissection of the vessels. According to documents, arterial pedicle to the serratus muscle not originated from the thoracodorsal artery is rarely reported, and in most of these cases, the arteries are originated from the subscapular artery. Thus pedicle directly originated from the axillary artery to serratus muscle is a very rare variation in its vascular anatomy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.14-22
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• 2007

Perforator free flap (PFF) is currently a major reconstructive option for soft tissue reconstruction in adults. Although PFFs have been used commonly, most reconstructive surgeons still hesitate to perform PFFs in children. The main cause of concern is the perceived high failure rate related to the small diameter of children's perforator vessels. We present 8 consecutive cases of successful transfer of thoracodorsal artery (TDA) & anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap in children. Between 2003 and 2005, 8 children(4 to 13 years old) with soft tissue defects of the extremities were reconstructed with TDA & ALT PFFs. All flaps completely survived. There were no problems relating to vascular spasm or occlusion. Range of motion of reconstructed extremities were fully recovered. Among 8 patients, only 1 patient was performed an additional flap thinning procedure. 8 cases of TDA & ALT perforator flaps were successfully transferred in children. PFF is an excellent option in reconstruction of children as well as in adults because of its thinness, long pedicle length, least donor site morbidity and acceptable donor site scar.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.15-25
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• 2021

Thoracodorsal artery (TDA) flaps, ranging from the vascular-pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap, the propeller TDAP flap, and the muscle-sparing latissimus dorsi (MSLD) flap to the conventional latissimus dorsi (LD) flap and the extended LD flap, can all be used for breast reconstruction. The aim of this paper and review is to share our experiences and recommendations for procedure selection when applying TDA-based flaps for breast reconstruction. We describe the different surgical techniques and our thoughts and experience regarding indications and selection between these procedures for individual patients who opt for breast reconstruction. We have performed 574 TDA flaps in 491 patients: 60 extended LD flaps, 122 conventional LD flaps, two MSLD flaps, 233 propeller TDAP flaps, 122 TDAP flaps, and 35 free contralateral TDAP flaps for stacked TDAP breast reconstruction. All the TDA flaps are important flaps for reconstruction of the breast. The LD flap is still an option, although we prefer flaps without muscle when possible. The vascular-pedicled TDAP flap is an option for experienced surgeons, and the propeller TDAP flap can be used in most reconstructive cases of the breast, although a secondary procedure is often necessary for correction of the pedicle bulk. The extended LD flap is an option for women with a substantial body mass index, although it is associated with the highest morbidity of all the TDA flaps. The MSLD flap can be used if the perforators are small or if dissection of the perforators is assessed to be hazardous.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.173-180
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• 2013

As microvascular techniques continue to improve, perforator flap free tissue transfer is now the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction. Various options are available for breast reconstruction with autologous tissue. These include the free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap, superficial inferior epigastric artery flap, superior gluteal artery perforator flap, and transverse/vertical upper gracilis flap. In addition, pedicled flaps can be very successful in the right hands and the right patient, such as the pedicled TRAM flap, latissimus dorsi flap, and thoracodorsal artery perforator. Each flap comes with its own advantages and disadvantages related to tissue properties and donor-site morbidity. Currently, the problem is how to determine the most appropriate flap for a particular patient among those potential candidates. Based on a thorough review of the literature and accumulated experiences in the author's institution, this article provides a logical approach to autologous breast reconstruction. The algorithms presented here can be helpful to customize breast reconstruction to individual patient needs.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.569-573
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• 2007

Purpose: The selection of the recipient vessels in breast reconstruction has a great influence on the surgical result and the shape of the reconstructed breast. We would like to introduce the criteria for the selection of recipient vessels in delayed reconstruction of the breast. Methods: We studied 56 patients with delayed breast reconstruction using free TRAM flaps from April 1994 to December 2006. The thoracodorsal and the ipsilateral internal mammary vessels were used as recipients in 25 patients each, the opposite internal mammary vessels in 3 patients, the thoracoacromial vessels in 2 patients, and the transverse cervical artery with the cephalic vein in 1 patient. The survival rate of the flaps, the vessel diameter, the length of the pedicles, and the convenience of vessel dissection were studied. Results: The diameter of the recipient vessel did not influence the anastomosis. The operation time, the survival rate of flap, the postoperative complications showed no significant difference according to the recipient vessel. Dissection of the thoracodorsal vessels was tedious due to scar formation from the prior operation. Dissection of the internal mammary vessels proved to be relatively easy, and the required length of the pedicle was shorter than any other site, but the need for removal of rib cartilage makes this procedure inconvenient. Conclusion: The first choice of the recipient vessel in immediate breast reconstruction is the thoracodorsal vessels, but in cases of delayed reconstruction the internal mammary vessels are favored as the first choice, because the thoracodorsal vessels have a high unusability rate. If the ipsilateral internal mammary vessels prove to be useless, the contralateral vessels can be used. The thoracoacromial vessels are useful, when the mastectomy scar is located in the upper portion. The transverse cervical artery and the cephalic vein can serve as the last resort, if all other vessels are unreliable.