• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2009

Purpose: Despite the free tissue transfer using microsurgical technique being the current trend of soft tissue reconstruction of the hand, the pedicled groin flap has the advantage to provide coverage for the mangled hand without necessitating the use of a damaged arterial system and also providing the benefit of saving the arterial system for later free tissue transfer. This report presents the author's experience using pedicled groin flap in four cases of mangled hands with massive bone and soft tissue defects requiring later thumb reconstruction with the free wrap around flap. Materials and methods: The patients' age ranged from 30 to 51 years; three patients were male and one was female. The causes of mangled hand included two machinery crush injuries, one laboratory explosion and one motor vehicle accident. While evaluating the post-operative results, factors like flap survival, complications, stability in opposition, pinch power and 2 point discrimination were taken into account. Results: All massive soft tissue defects of the hands were completely covered with pedicled groin flap successfully. The reconstructed thumb using free wrap around flap did not have any limitation in opposition. There was no occurrence of post-operative infection and all the flaps survived completely. The average pinch power was 70% of the contralateral intact thumb and average 2 point discrimination was 10 mm. Conclusion: The pedicled groin flap for the reconstruction of the massive soft tissue defects of the hand with subsequent reconstruction of the thumb with a wrap around flap is a very useful procedure. The combined use of pedicled groin flap and wrap around flap allows adequate coverage of sizable soft tissue defects and functional thumb opposition in cases of reconstruction of the mangled hands.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2008

Purpose: Free flaps from the great toe are an established method for reconstruction of absent or partially amputated thumbs. However, options differ as to which technique represents the ideal solution for each level of amputation. Various methods of distal thumb reconstruction have been proposed. We prefer to transplant the entire great toe nail complex with the almost all of the pulp rather than a portion of the nail. This paper reflects our experience in using the great toe mini wrap-around flap for distal thumb reconstruction. Materials and Methods: In the period from October of 2005 to July of 2007, 9 patients were treated for traumatic thumb defects localized at the distal phalanx of the thumb. The patients included seven men and two women. The mean age was 44 years (range, 21~60) and the dominant right hand was involved in seven of nine patients. Results: The transferred flaps have survived completely in all cases. The mean range of motion in the interphalangeal joints was 51o, with 73% of the normal uninjured opposite hands. The two-point discrimination was 10.5 mm (range, 5~13 mm). In Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, the sensibility was 4.31 in 4 cases, 3.61 in 3 cases and 2.83 in 2 cases. The pinch power was 64% (range, 55~95%) of the opposite hand. All patients were satisfied with the appearance of the reconstructed thumb and felt comfortable at final follow-up. Conclusion: We have successfully reconstructed 9 cases of traumatic distal thumb defects using the mini wrap-around free flap. The mini wrap-around free flap in great toe is an excellent alternative method for distal thumb reconstruction in selected patients.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.204-205
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• 1999

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.365-368
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• 2022

Spinal extradural arachnoid cyst (SEAC) is a rare disease and has surgical challenges because of the critical surrounding anatomy. We describe the rare case of a 58-year-old woman who underwent extradural cyst total excision with dural repair and presented with refractory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage even though two consecutive surgeries including dural defect re-repair and lumbar-peritoneal shunt were performed. The authors covered the sacral defect using bilateral gluteus maximus muscle flap in tongue in groove and wrap around pattern for protection of visible sacral nerve roots and blockage of CSF leakage point. With the flap coverage, the disappearance of cyst and fluid collection was confirmed in the postoperative radiological finding, and the clinical symptoms were significantly improved. By protecting the sacral nerve roots and covering the base of sacral defect, we can minimize the risk of complication and resolve the refractory fluid collection. Our results suggest that the gluteus muscle flap can be a safe and effective option for sacral defect and CSF leakage in extradural cyst or other conditions.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 1994

Firstly the wrap-around free flap from the great toe was transferred successfully by Morrison and O'Brien in 1980 for reconstruction in chronic case of amputated thumb distal to the MP joint. Since then, significant bone peg resorption and grafted bone fracture have been reported in most of cases after operation. We have performed thumb reconstructions within 2 weeks after injury in 11 cases which included acute crushing injuries or failed replantation of thumb at Guro Hospital from September, 1983 to October, 1993. The results obtained from this study are as follows: 1. There were 8 males and 3 females and the mean age was 28.8 years old ranged from 3 years old to 50 years old. 2. The most common injury mechanism was machinary injury in 10 of 11 cases. 3. We have performed thumb reconstructions by using wrap-around free flap from the great toe without bone graft in 6 cases and with bone graft in 5 cases within 2 weeks after injury. 4. During 6 years and 1 month mean follow-up period, there were bone resorptions in 3, grafted bone fracture in 1, infections in 2 and soft tissue necrosis in 3 cases. 5. We obtained satisfactable results in respect of function and cosmesis and urged to use this flap for reconstruction in acute thumb injury.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.68.1-68.1
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• 1995

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 1994

There are several methods to reconstruct an amputated or lost thumb such as toe to thumb transfer, pollicization and other variety of free flaps. In 1980, Morrison and O'Brien advocated reconstruction of the thumb with a free wrap-around flap from the big toe to recreate a stable, sensate and functional digit, including the nail. From March, 1982 to December, 1992, thirty cases of thumb reconstructions were performed using the wrap-around procedure at Korea University Hospital. 1. 29 cases of total 30 cases were successful and can be obtained the excellent results in functional and cosmetic aspect. 2. In postoperative complications, one case is graft failure, six cases in partial skin necrosis, one case in malunion, 15 cases in resorption of grafted bone piece were come out. 3. Even if the 1st metacarpal neck amputation is occurred, thumb reconstruction with a free neurovascular wrap-around flap was also possible, however, the limitation of the mobility of the reconstructed thumb and resorption of grafted bone piece were come out. We concluded that cosmesis and fuctional results were quite satisfactory despite of some complications. The thumb reconstruction with a wrap around free flap from the big toe in thumb amputated patients is the excellent method in the cosmetic and functional aspect and can be considered as the most useful method because of less morbidity to the donor site and the operator should be trained to get the meticulous microsurgical technique and to detect the complications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.764-768
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• 2022

The wrap-around flap (WAF) has become a popular approach to thumb reconstruction because the results are functionally and cosmetically excellent. By modifying to a partial toenail transfer, the WAF can also be used for finger reconstruction. However, performing cosmetically superior finger reconstruction is a significant challenge because it is difficult to reconstruct the natural nailfold by partial nail transplantation, although partial nail transplantation is required to reconstruct a narrow fingernail. One side of the reconstructed lateral nailfold tends to be a missing nail margin, and one side of the proximal nailfold angle tends to be retracted. Based on the rationale that loss of the lateral nailfold volume due to the postoperative tension of the volar flap would result in a missing nail margin, the volume of the lateral nailfold was maintained with a single thread that was passed from the nail to the volar flap. Additionally, half of the proximal nailfold from the nail plate was elevated to advance it forward. The results indicated that a cosmetically natural nailfold was achieved with the WAF approach to finger reconstruction. These easy and simple techniques enable reconstruction of a cosmetically natural nailfold using WAF for finger reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1997

The methods of clinical applications of the foot as a free-flap donor site includes microvascular toe-to-finger transfer, free neurovascular flap transfer, first web space flap transfer, and osteocutaneous free flap transfer. We have evaluated the results of treatment for 35 patients to be undergone a microvascular reconstructive procedure with the foot as a donor site from January 1982 to June 1996. The performed operations were 16 cases of thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure, 3 cases of tenocutaneous flap transfer, 10 cases of dorsalis pedis flap transfer, 2 cases of first web space free flap and 4 cases of toe-to-finger transfer. The follow up study was 69 months in average. Regarding to the various donor sites, morbidity was divided into five different categories: Cosmesis, Functional loss, Sensory loss, Wound complication, and Pain. According to the results of examination(35 patients), the results was excellent(25), good(9), fair(1), and poor(0). Among the categories, morbidity was higher at cosmesis. The patients under 50 years were better outcome. Among the operative methods from the foot as a donor site, thumb reconstruction with wrap around procedure showed poorest outcomes. So, We conclude that the foot as a free flap donor site is a good source for the microvascular reconstructive surgery. But, Preoperative donor site evaluation, adequate operative technique and post operative management are essential to decrease the morbidity of donor site.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2019

A 70-year-old man complained imbalance while walking, inability to perform ankle flexion, and could not stand on tip-toe 3 months after injury. The ankle looked swollen with loss of Achilles contour and obvious gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging shows a 5-cm Achilles tendon gap. Subsequently, surgery was performed to solve the neglected Achilles tendon rupture. Patient was put under general anesthesia with a regional block. Using a nontourniquet technique, a reconstructive procedure was performed using a half-width autologous Achilles tendon graft, which was attached to the calcaneal prominence with wire in a double strand Bunnell fashion. As for the proximal stump, double core Bunnell/modified Kessler suturing was carried out to suture the graft to Achilles stump. To increase the vascularization, an ipsilateral gastrocnemius fascial flap with a distally based-pedicle was harvested to wrap around the tendon graft. At a 6-month follow-up, the patient was able to stand on tip-toe and had also regained a normal gait.