• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-28
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• 1997

Adequate vascularization is pivotally essential for a successful nerve graft. Theoretically, the immediate vascularization will inhibit fibroblast infiltration and stimulate nerve cell regeneration. In this study, histomorphological and electrophysiological studies were performed to determine if vascularized grafts are functionally superior. In rat model, a 4cm segment of the sciatic nerve was obtained and placed as a non vascularized graft on one side, and as a vascularized graft connected to the inferior gluteal vessels on the opposite side. To determine the compound action potential of the gastrocnemius muscle, electromyography was done after 2, 3 and 4 months. Histomorphologically, the distribution of myelinated nerve fibers and Schwann cell were evaluated after toluidine blue staining, The following resutls were obtained: 1. The electrophysiological studies showed no difference between the nonvascularized and vascularized grafts. 2. Two and three months after grafting, myelinated nerve fibers were more abundant in the vascularized proximal, middle and distal areas in all nerve fibers of varying diameters. 3. In the post-nonvascularized graft 2-month group, a few myelinated nerve fibers were present in the proximal and middle areas, but none distally. In the post-vascularized graft 2 month group, myelinated nerve fibers ranging $2-8{\mu}m$ were present in all three areas. 4. In the post-nonvascularized graft 3 month group, a few myelinated nerve fibers ranging in $2-6{\mu}m$ were present in all three areas, but in the post-vascularized graft 3 month group, many myelinated nerve fibers ranging in $2-10{\mu}m$ were present in all three areas. 5. In the post-graft 4-month group, more myelinated nerve fibers were present in all three areas of the vascularized grafts. However, nerve fibers of less than $2{\mu}m$ in diameter were more abundant in the non vascularized grafts. 6. Schwann cells were more abundant in the proximal, middle and distal areas of the post-vascularized 2, 3 and 4-month grafts. Based on these findings, the immediate restoration of circulation in vascularized nerve grafts allows for the increased number of surviving Schwann cells, rapid healing of the axon and myelin sheath changes which occur during Wallerian degeneration, and thus is able to stimulate a morphologically optimal regeneration.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.124-124
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• 1997

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.103-103
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• 1994

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2020

Upper limb nerve damage is a common condition, and evidence suggests that functional recovery may be limited following peripheral nerve repair in cases of delayed reconstruction or reconstruction of long nerve defects. A 26-year-old man presented with traumatic injury from a wide, blunt wound of the right forearm caused by broken glass, with soft tissue loss, complete transection of the radial and ulnar arteries, and a large median nerve gap. The patient underwent debridement and subsequent surgery with a microsurgical free radial fasciocutaneous flap to provide a direct blood supply to the hand; the cephalic vein within the flap was employed as a venous vascularized chamber to wrap the sural nerve graft and to repair the wide gap (14 cm) in the median nerve. During the postoperative period, the patient followed an intensive rehabilitation program and was monitored for functional performance over 5 years of follow-up. Our assessment demonstrated skin tropism and sufficient muscle power to act against strong resistance (M5) in the muscles previously affected by paralysis, as well as a good localization of stimuli in the median nerve region and an imperfect recovery of two-point discrimination (S3+). We propose a novel and efficient procedure to repair >10-cm peripheral nerve gap injuries related to upper limb trauma.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.52-56
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• 2013

Purpose: We had proceeded seven iIpsilateral dorsalis pedis vascularized pedicle flaps in the distal leg and foot to cover the restricted size defects and followed-up average for 5 years and 9 months to evaluate the survival rate, neurosensory function and cosmesis in final results. Materials and Methods: From January 1999 through October 2012, we have performed iIpsilateral dorsalis pedis vascularized pedicle flaps in the distal leg and foot to cover the restricted size defect (average around $3.6{\times}2.4cm$) in 7 cases and average age was 41.6 years (21.5 to 59.0 years). Lesion site was posterior heel in 4 cases, distal anterior leg in 3 cases. Donor structure was the dorsalis pedis artery and the first dorsal metatarsal vessel and deep peroneal nerve in 3 cases and the dorsalis pedis artery and the first dorsal metatarsal vessel in 4 cases. Results: Seven cases (100%) were survived and defect area was healed with continuous dressing without skin graft. The sensory function in the neurovascular flap was restored to normal in 3 cases. Cosmesis was good and fair in 7 cases (85.7%). Conclusion: Ipsilateral dorsalis pedis vascularized pedicle flap in the distal leg and foot is one of the choice to cover the exposed bone and soft tissues without microsurgical procedure.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 2012

Purpose: The vessels of peripheral nerves have been extensively studied since Breidenbach used vascularizd nerve grafts. Tayor and Pinel studied the course and distribution of the vessels of peripheral nerves. However, the vessels of digital nerves are still not well known. The objective of this study was to prove vessels of digital nerves and to investigate the pathway of that. Materials and Methods: 36 patients and 2 fresh human cadavers were studied under the microscope and histologic sections under the light microscope.. Results: We found that digital nerves had own arterioles and venules as well as peripheral nerves. This small vessels of digital nerves paralleled the digital nerves or run in a spiral. Digital nerves were abundantly vascularized throught their length by a succession of vessels and by their repeated divisions and anastomoses. Conclusion: The clinical implications of this results can be discussed in relation to the dissection of nerves, the possibility of vasculized nerve grafts.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.106-111
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• 1996

Purpose : Propose a surgical technique in donor harvesting method in free vascularized proximal fibular epiphysis. Methodology : Concerned about growth potentials of the transplanted epiphysis in our long term results of the epiphyseal transplanted 13 cases more than 4 years follow-up, anterior tibial artery which contains anterior tibial recurrent artery is most reliable vessel to proximal fibular epiphysis which is the best donor of the free vascularized epiphyseal transplantation. In vascular anatomical aspect proximal fibular epiphysis norished by latearl inferior genicular artery from popliteal, posterior tibial recurrent artery and anterior tibial recurrent artery from anterior tibial artery and peroneal artery through metaphysis. The lateral inferior genicular artery is very small and difficult to isolate, peroneal artery from metaphysis through epiphyseal plate can not give enough blood supply to epiphysis itself. The anterior tibial artery which include anterior tibial recurrent and posterior tibial recurrent artery is the best choice in this procedure. But anterior tibial recurrent artery merge from within one inch from bifucating point of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries from popliteal artery. So it is very difficult to get enough vascular pedicle length to anastomose in recipient vessel without vein graft even harvested from bifucating point from popliteal artery. Authors took recipient artery from distal direction of anterior tibial artery after ligation of the proximal popliteal side vessel, which can get unlimited pedicle length and safer dissection of the harvesting proximal fibular epiphysis. Results : This harvesting procedure can performed supine position, direct anterolateral approach to proximal tibiofibular joint. Dissect and isolate the biceps muscle insertion from fibular head, micro-dissection is needed to identify the anterior tibial recurrent arteries to proximal epiphysis, soft tissue release down to distal and deeper plane to find main anterior tibial artery which overlying on interosseous membrane. Special care is needed to protect peroneal nerve damage which across the surgical field. Conclusions : Proximal fibular epiphyseal transplantation with distally directed anterior tibial artery harvesting technique is effective and easier dissect and versatile application with much longer arterial pedicle.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 1994

One hundred and sixty patients had reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity with the microsurgical technique at the department of orthopaedic surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine from 1982 to 1989. There were ninty-six cases of men and sixty-four cases of women, in which the mean age was 23.8 years. These patients were followed for 21.4 months. The causes were 114 cases from traffic accidents, 18 cases from tumors, 12 cases from machinery injuries, 5 cases from burns, 2 cases from explosive injuries, and 9 cases from other reasons. There were 55 cases of scapular flap, 35 cases of groin flap, 23 cases of free vascularized osteocutaneous flap, 18 cases of parascapular flap, 9 cases of combined scapular and latissimus dorsi flaps, and 8 cases of segmental resection and rotationplasty. Success in reconstructive surgery with the microsurgical technique was achieved in one hundred and thirty four cases, and function and cosmetic results were excellent. Free vascularized flap with development of the microsurgical technique has taken an important role in reconstruction of large extremity defects where skin graft and distant flap were not applicable. Reconstruction of the lower extremity with the microsurgical technique is indicated with free vascularized osteocutaneous flap when there is a large defect of bone, a need for injured nerve replacement, and in the case of needed multiple staged operations. In these instences, this technique is regarded as simple one-staged reconstructive surgery.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 1995

With the development of anticancer chemotherapy and improved radiographic imaging studies, limb salvage operation became possible in the treatment of malignant and aggressive benign tumors. High grade sarcomas of the shoulder or the upper extremity can be surgically treated with a forequarter amputation, shoulder disarticulation or limb salvage surgery such as Tikhoff-Linberg procedure, segmental resection and replacement with endoprosthesis, segmental resection and replantation, or segmental resection and free vascularized bone graft. Among them the limb salvage surgery showed not only preservation of the remained upper extremity but also the excellent functional results. When comparing amputation and limb salvage operation while performing anticancer chemotherapy in both cases, 5 year survival rate, local recurrence, and distant metastasis did not show much difference. We studied 13 cases of limb salvage for the malignant and aggressive benign bone tumor of the upper extremity from March 1986 to December 1993 at Severance hospital. The summarized results were as follows. 1. There were 21 cases of malignant bone tumors and 5 cases of benign aggressive ones. 2. Of the 26 cases of malignant and benign aggressive bone tumors, limb salvage procedures such as Tikhoff-Linberg operation(8 cases), endoprosthetic replacement(2 cases), segmental resection and replantation(2 cases), and segmental resection and free vascularized fibular graft(l case) were done in 13 cases. 3. In 13 patient on whom the limb salvage procedure was performed, there were 3 osteosarcomas, 4 chondrosarcomas, 3 giant cell tumors, 1 Ewing's sarcoma, 1 leiomyosarcoma and 1 chondroblastoma. 4. In 13 patients, there was no local recurrence nor distant metastasis except one who had a segmental resection of the entire humerus part including glenoid and then postoperative anticancer chemotherapy for the treatment of the Ewing's sarcoma of the entire shaft of the humerus with pathological fracture. Local recurrence occurred 2 years and 6 months postoperatively in this Ewing's sarcoma patient, so forequarter amputation was performed and the irradiation and the anticancer chemontherapy were performed, but multiple bony metastasis developed and died of the disease 22 months after local recurrence. 5. The patients were followed-up for I year to 7 years and 5 months(average 4 years 5 months). 6. In 8 cases in which Tikhoff-Linberg procedure was performed, the function of the hand was almost normal. 7. Segmental resection and endoprosthetic replacement was performed in 2 cases, and the function of the remained upper extremity was good with no evidence of aseptic loosening or nerve palsy. 8. In 1 case of segmental resection and free vascularized fibular graft for the patient of the chon drosarcoma in the humerus, the function of the shoulder, elbow and hand was nearly normal. 9. In I case of leiomyosarcoma which involved both forearm muscles and bone near wrist joint, segmental resection and replantation was performed, and the patient has useful hand function.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1999

The skin on the dorsum of the foot is a source of the reliable thin and sensory cutaneous free tissue transplantation with or without tendon, bone and joint. A composite flap with attached vascularized tendon grafts for the combined loss of skin and tendon on the dorsum of the hand and foot offers an immediate one stage solution to this problem. The flap provides a very durable innervated tissue cover for the heel of the foot and the dorsum of the hand and an osteocutaneous transfer combined with the second metatarsal. The major dorsalis pedis artery is constant in size, but the first dorsal metatarsal artery is variable in size and location. The dorsal surface of the foot receives sensory innervation through the superficial peroneal nerve and the first web through the deep peroneal nerve. Authors had performed 5 dorsalis pedis free flap transplantation in the foot and hand at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital from August 1993 through August 1997 and followed up for the period of between 19 and 67 months until March 1999. The results were as follows 1. 5 cases dorsalis pedis free flap transfer to the foot(4 cases) and the hand(1 case) were performed and the recipient was foot dorsum and heel 2 cases each and hand dorsum 1 case. 2 All of 5 cases(100%) were survived from free flap transfer and recipient artery was dorsalis pedis artery(2 cases), anterior tibial artery(1 case), posterior tibial artery(1 case) and ulnar artery(1 case) and recipient veins were 2 in number except in the hand. 3. Long term follow up of the exterior and maceration was good and sensory recovery was poor 4. Donor site was covered with full thickness skin graft obtained from one or both inguinal areas at postoperative 3rd week and skin graft was taken good and no morbidity was showed.