• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 1998

In 1980 Morrison and O'Brien reported their experiences about the reconstruction of amputated thumb using wrap-around neurovascular free flap from the great toe with a nonvascularized iliac bone graft. From then it has been considered to be a good reconstructive procedure for the amputated thumb, but it's indication has been limited distal to the metacarpophalangeal(MP) joint. We have performed 37 cases of wrap-around free flap from the great toe for the reconstruction of thumb amputated at distal or proximal to the MP joint and investigated their functional results according to the level of amputation. Level of amputation was distal to the MP joint in 25 cases and proximal to it in 12 cases. Pinching and grasping power, two point discrimination and the amount of opposition to the other fingers were compared to the uninjured hand. Pinching and grasping power were not significantly different according to the level of amputation but the amount of two point discrimination was significantly high in the cases amputated proximal to the MP joint. The opposition of reconstructed thumb to the other fingers was completely possible in all cases amputated distal to the MP joint. In 12 cases amputated proximal to the MP joint of the thumb, opposition was completely possible in 6 cases in which the iliac bone block was fixated in the position of $30^{\circ}$ flexion and $45^{\circ}$ internal rotation but in 6 cases in the fixation of $30^{\circ}$ flexion and $30^{\circ}$ internal rotation, the opposition of reconstructed thumb to the ring and little fingers were impossible in 5 cases and only to the little finger in 1 case. In this study, we concluded that even if amputation proximal to the MP joint, it is no more contraindication of the wrap-around free flap procedure for thumb reconstruction, however in these cases we recommend iliac bone block fixation in the position of $30^{\circ}$ flexion and $45^{\circ}$ infernal rotation for the better functional outcome.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2000

Microsurgical reconstruction of the hand demands recovery of the sensation of the reconstructed free flap as well as microsurgeon's intelligence, technique and experience. Even with adequate soft tissue coverage and skeletal mobility, an insensate hand is prone to further injury and is unlikely to be useful to the patients. Authors have performed 8 cases of neurosensory free flaps in the hand, 4 cases of wrap around, 3 dorsalis pedis and 1 lateral arm flap, from July 1992 through June 1999 and followed up average 4 years and 4 months. Wrap around flap was performed for reconstruction of 4 cases of thumb, repairing deep peroneal nerve and superficial radial nerve by epineurial neurorrhaphy, and followed up for average 3 years and 10 months and calculated 9mm in the static 2 point discrimination test. Dorsalis pedis flap were 3 cases for reconstruction of the ray amputation, extensor tendon exposure and wrist exposure. Deep peroneal nerve and branch of the ulnar nerve was repaired by epineurial neurorrhaphy calculating 6mm and superficial peroneal nerve and superficial radial nerve averaging 18mm in the static 2 point discrimination test for follow up average 2 years and 9 months. Lateral arm flap was 1 case for reconstruction of the ray amputation in the hand repairing posterior cutaneous nerve to the arm to the superficial radial nerve calculating 20mm for follow up 6 years and 8 months.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.101.2-101.2
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• 1994

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1996

From Fabuary 1982 to May 1995, 396 patients had undergone reconstructive surgery of the upper and lower limb with microsurgical technique at department of orthopaedic surgery, Yonsei University of Medicine. The results were as follows; 1. Average age at the time of operation was 23.4years(2-64 years), and there were 277 male and 119 female patients. 2. Among 324 patients of soft tissue flap(87 inguinal flap, 132 scapular flap, 38 latissimus dorsi flap, 11 latissimus dorsi and scapular combind flap, 6 gracilis flap, 12 deltoid flap, 3 tensor facia lata flap, 11 dorsalis pedis flap, 6 lateral thigh flap, 12 wrap around flap, 1 lateral arm flap, 5 musculocutaneous flap), 274 cases(85.5%) were succeed. 3. Among 37 patients of vascularized bone graft(18 fibular bone graft, 11 iliac bone graft, 7 toe to finger transplantation,1 vascular pedicle rib graft), 30 cases(80.1%) were succeed. 4. In 26 cases of segmental resection and rotationplasty at lower extremity, 23 cases were succeed. 5. In 7 cases of Tikhoff-Linberg procedure and in 2 case of segmental resection and replantation, all case was succeed. Overall success rate of microscopic reconstructive surgery was 85.6%. In conclusion, microsurgical technigue is valuable for reconstruction of tissue defect or function loss of the limb.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

Free flap transplantation demands meticulous microsurgical technique to cover the exposed vital structures which is important to restore and maintain functions of the extremities. From July 1992 through December 2000, 99 patients were received reconstructive microsurgery in the upper and lower extremity at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. The most common cause in the upper extremity was industrial accident, 8 cases of total 15 cases and in the lower extremity was traffic accident, 66 cases of total 84 cases. The most commonly involved site was thumb and finger, 8 cases of total 15 cases and in the lower extremity was leg, 65 cases of total 84 cases. In upper extremity, the wrap around free flap was carried out in 4 cases(4.0%), first dorsal metatarsal artery flap and lateral arm flap were 3 cases(3.0%) each in 15 cases and in lower extremity, latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap were 23 cases(23.2%), gracilis 20cases(20.2%), and rectus abdominis muscle flap 18(18.2%) in 84 cases. Overall 89 cases(89.9%) of 99 cases were survived and maintained and revealed good cosmetic results.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.100.1-100.1
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• 1994

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 1997

Traumatic injury to the hand often leads to soft tissue defects with exposed tendons, bones, or joints. Though many new flap have been introduced, the choice of flap that would be best for the patient depends on such factors as the site, size, and degree of wounds. Additionally the selected surgical method should be yielded cosmetic and functional superiority by the one-staged reconstruction. In our experience, small to medium sized soft tissue defect with bone and tendon exposure of hand can be resurfaced with an arterialized venous free flap from the volar aspect of distal forearm. Wide and deep defects of the hand can be covered with a sensory cutaneous free flap such as the medial plantar free flap, dorsalis pedis free flap, and radial forearm free flap. Specialized flap such as wrap-around flap, toe-to-finger transfer, onychocutaneous free flap can be used for the recontruction of defect on the thumb and finger. Based on the above considerations and our clinical experience of 60 free flap cases of the hand, the various methods for the proper repair of soft tissue defects of the hand are described. And we obtained satisfactory functional and cosmetic results with 95% success rate of free flap.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1992

The authors analyzed the clinical results of the reconstructive surgery for injuried hand with microsurgery in 33 patients, 35 cases at the department of orthopaedic surgery, school of medicine, Kyung Hee university from 1985 to 1992 and the results were as followings. 1. There were 31 men and 4 women who had a mean age of 23 years(range, 3 to 44 years) and the follow up evaluations averaged 19 months. 2. The causes of the injury were machinery injury in 25 cases, traffic accident in 2, frostbite in 4, burn in 3 and fall down in 1. 3. For the reconstructive procedure, scapular free flap was applied in 6 cases, radial forearm flap in 7, dorsalis pedis free flap in 4, neurovascular island flap in 6, gracilis free flap in 1, wrap around flap in 6, toe to thumb in 5. 4. 32 cases(91.4%)were successful in reconstructive surgery with microsurgery exept the failure of scapular free flap in 2 cases and dorsalis pedis free flap in 1. 5. The causes of failure in scapular free flap were infection in 1 case and thrombosis in 1. In dorsalis pedis free flap, the cause of failure was infection. In the analysis of above results, the reconstruction with microsurgery was effective procedure for reconstruction of injuried hand.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2012

Purpose: Thumb reconstruction plays most important role in hand injuries because total loss of a thumb constitutes about 40% disability in the hand. The reconstruction can be accomplished by pollicization, free toe-to-thumb transfer, wrap around procedure and lengthening extraction. However, we sometimes need consecutive or double free flaps in the reconstruction of mutilating hand injuries. Methods: We reconstructed a mutilating hand injury in a 54-years old man. Because of severe crushing injury of right thumb and index fingers, we reconstructed a thumb with pollicization using nearly amputated middle finger. Although it survived completely, the adjacent soft tissues which had been covered by fillet flap from the space past was necrosed on 1 month. We debrided the necrotic tissues and covered it with anteromedial thigh perforator free flap consecutively because he had an anatomical variation in branches of lateral femoral circumflex artery. Results: He had an uneventful postoperative course without any complication such as infection, dehiscence and flap necrosis. Three months later, he had undergone tenolysis and defatting procedure of flap site. He recovered the some amount of grip function and was happy with the result. Conclusion: In severe hand trauma including thumb amputation, thumb reconstruction using pollicization and perforator free flap could be an alternative option. It provides minimal donor site morbidity and an acceptable functional result.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2001

The hand with amputation of all fingers is useless for activities of daily living and traumatic amputation of some of the fingers can result in the diminished ability to perform power grip and precision grip which is vital to maintain normal function of the hand. Precision grip is used to hold an object between the opposable thumb and flexed fingers. In power grip the object is held between the flexed fingers and the palm while the thumb applies the necessary counterpressure to maintain the grip on the object. A 35 year old male lost his right all fingers including thumb at the level of proximal phalanx from the pressure machinary accident. Thumb was reconstructed using wrap around flap and the second and third fingers were reconstructed using the second and third toe transplantation. Seven years after reconstruction, he uses the reconstructed thumb and the second and the third fingers for eating meals, writing down a paper with a pencil and putting on socks.