• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2012

Background : Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a rare, but life-threatening complication, thus early diagnosis and proper management is essential for poststernotomy mediastinitis. The main treatment for mediastinitis is aggressive debridement. Several options exist for reconstruction of defects after debridement. The efficacy of immediate debridement and reconstruction with a pectoralis major muscle flap designed for the defect immediately after the diagnosis of poststernotomy mediastinitis is demonstrated. Methods : Between September 2009 and June 2011, 6 patients were referred to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Ajou University Hospital for poststernotomy mediastinitis. All of the patients underwent extensive debridement and reconstruction with pectoralis major muscle flaps, advanced based on the pedicle of the thoracoacromial artery as soon as possible following diagnosis. A retrospective review of the 6 cases was performed to evaluate infection control, postoperative morbidity, and mortality. Results : All patients had complete wound closures and reduced severity of infections based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels and a reduction in poststernal fluid collection on computed tomography an average of 6 days postoperatively. A lack of growth of organisms in the wound culture was demonstrated after 3 weeks. There were no major wound morbidities, such as hematomas, but one minor complication required a skin graft caused by skin flap necrosis. No patient expired after definitive surgery. Conclusions : Immediate debridement and reconstruction using a pectoralis major muscle flap is a safe technique for managing infections associated with poststernotomy mediastinitis, and is associated with minimal morbidity and mortality.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2000

The treatment of chronic chest wounds should be focused on eradicating the infection and obliterating the dead space thus providing improved pulmonary function. Chronic chest wounds, although the incidence has decreased over the years, is still associated with high morbidity and prolong hospitalization. In cases where the disease is advanced and conventional measures fail, aggressive approaches achieve adequate resolution or significant improvement. This paper reports four cases of chronic chest wound including bronchopleural fistula and osteomyelitis managed by debridement followed by muscle coverage using latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, and omental flap. The intrathoracic reconstruction entails thorough debridement of empyema cavities, bronchpleural fistulas and infection focus. The infection must be completely eradicated prior to or at the time of flap transposition. The flaps used for obliteration of dead spaces provided adequate bulk, abundant blood supply, and minimal donor morbidity. The results were satisfactory with improved respiratory function without complications.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.103-115
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• 1999

The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is the regeneration of periodontal tissue which has been lost due to destructive periodontal disease. Various periodontal procedures have been used throughout the years in an attempt to reestablish attachment of periodontal tissues to root surfaces affected by periodontitis. Flap debridement surgery has been demonstrated to be a successful procedure in gaining the probing attachment level and reducing probing depth. A tendency towards impaired wound healing following periodontal procedures in smokers has been clinically documented. But, previous clinical studies on healing response in smokers are based on a retrospective design. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcome following flap debridement surgery in smokers compared to nonsmokers. 25 patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis were included for study. Among these patients, 13 patients were smokers, and 12 patients were nonsmokers. Mucoperiosteal flap was raised with the sulcular incision. No antibiotic treatment was administered postsurgery. The patients was recalled at monthly intervals during a period of 6 months following the surgery. The patients were received supragingival scaling and oral hygiene reinforcement. All the recordings, including modified O' Leary plaque control record, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, probing attachment level,were recorded, presurgery and 6 months postsurgery. The changes of all the recordings at 6 months after flap debridement surgery revealed the following results: 1. PI on all the dentitions and surgical sites showed no statistical significance between smokers and nonsmokers at presurgery. But, smokers demonstrated a significantly lower % of PI than nonsmokers at 6 months postsurgery. 2. Smokers demonstrated a greater % of BOP sites than nonsmokers on the surgical sites and all the dentitions, presurgery and 6 months postsurgery. But, there was no statistical significance between two groups. 3. Smokers exhibited significantly less reduction of probing depth in the 3 mm or less probing pocket depth(PPD) group, 6mm or more PPD group and total PPD group when compared to nonsmokers at 6 months postsurgery. 4. Smokers exhibited significantly less gain of probing attachment level(PAL) in the 3mm or less PPD group, 6 mm or more PPD group and total PPD group when compared to nonsmokers at 6 months postsurgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.604-607
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• 2022

Nontuberculous mycobacterial hardware infections are extremely challenging to treat. Multidisciplinary care involving removal of infected hardware, thorough debridement, and durable soft tissue coverage in conjunction with antibiotic therapy is essential for successful management. This case report presents a patient with chronic mycobacterial spinal hardware infection that underwent successful treatment with aggressive serial debridements and reconstruction with a large pedicled superior gluteal artery perforator flap coverage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.735-741
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• 2013

Background The prosthetic dura is an essential element in the protection of the cranial parenchyma and prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Although prosthetic dura are widely used in neurosurgery, they occasionally provoke infection, which can be a major concern after neurosurgical treatment. However, removal of the prosthetic dura carries a risk of brain parenchyma injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The salvage of infected prosthetic dural material has not been adequately addressed in the literature. In this study, we demonstrate the value of the combination of a meticulous surgical debridement of necrotic tissue and simultaneous muscle free flap for intractable postoperative epidural abscess without removal of the infected prosthetic dura. Methods Between 2010 and 2012, we reviewed the data of 11 patients with persistent infection on the prosthetic dura. The epidural infections each occurred after a neurosurgical procedure, and there was soft tissue necrosis with the disclosure of the underlying prosthetic dura and dead bone around the scalp wound. To salvage the infected prosthetic dura, meticulous debridement and a muscle free flap were performed. Results All 11 patients experienced complete recovery from the complicated wound problem without the need for further surgical intervention. No signs of prosthetic dural infection were observed during the mean follow-up period of 11 months. Conclusions The combination of a meticulous surgical debridement and coverage with a muscle free flap is an effective treatment for salvage of infected prosthetic dura.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 1996

Postoperative empyema thoracis with bronchopleural fistula (BPF) Is uncommon but serious complication. The management remains troublesome area in the field of the general thoracic surgery During the period of October 1993 to December 1994, four patients with postresectional empyema thoracic with BPF were treated consecutively in Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hosp tal. The treatment procedures include irrigation and debridement of the empyema cavity and muscle flap transposition. Follow-up periods after surgery were 4-12 months. Three patients were thought successful, one patient failed. We think that the cause of failure is muscle necrosis of rectos abdominis muscle flap due to vascular injury and infection of muscle due to residual infected debridement of empyema cavity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the appropriate management of severe radionecrotic wounds of the anterior chest wall associated with infection of the soft tissues and ribs and exposure of vital structures(heart and lung), and present our strategies for reconstruction of these complicated patients. 9 patients have undergone radical debridement and immediate microsurgical reconstruction for severe radionecrotic wounds of the anterior chest wall over last 7 years. All patients had extensive osteomyelitis of the ribs or sternum, and chronic infection or cutaneous fistulae. 2 patients had pericardial effusions due to longstanding inflammation, and 6 patients had pleural effusions. 2 patients had ipsilateral lung collapse. 10 free flaps were performed for coverage of the huge defects. One patient required 2 free flaps to control the inflammation. 8 free TRAM flaps were used for coverage of the defects and in addition, the rectus abdominis muscle was packed into any deep cavity. 1 patients underwent latissimus dorsi muscle free flap because of previous abdominal surgery. After extensive debridement of the infected, radionecrotic wounds, all 10 free flaps were successful. All the extensive radionecrotic defects of the anterior chest wall were completely healed. Free flaps successfully covered the exposed vital structures of the heart and lungs. Patients with severe radionecrotic defects of the anterior chest wall after ablative breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy were successfully treated by radical debridement and immediate free flap surgery. The TRAM flap together with the rectus muscle is the treatment of choice for these huge defects. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap was the second choice in patients with previous abdominal surgery. The recipient vessel should be carefully selected because of possible radiation damage and inflammation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2014

Purpose: Soft tissue defect on foot and ankle is vulnerable and requires a thin flap for improvement of aesthetic and functional results. Lateral supramalleolar flap is a simple and fast procedure, which can preserve and supply reliable constant blood flow, and causes fewer donor site complications. The authors reviewed our cases and report the clinical results. Materials and Methods: Ten cases of soft tissue defects on the lower leg, around the ankle were treated with lateral supramalleolar flap. There were seven males and three females with a mean age of 54.8 years. The mean size of flaps was $5.9{\times}6.3$ cm and the mean follow-up period was 23 months. Flap survival and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: Nine flaps survived completely without loss of flap. There was one case of partial wound dehiscence requiring debridement and repair, and another case of necrotic flap change requiring partial bone resection and closure. All patients were capable of weight bearing ambulation at the last follow up. Conclusion: The authors suggest that the lateral supramalleolar flap could be a useful option for treatment of soft tissue defect around the ankle joint.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2016

Any types of burn injury that involve more than deep dermis often require reconstructive treatment. In gluteal region, V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flap is frequently used to cover the defect. However, in case of large burn wounds, this kind of flap cannot provide adequate coverage because of the lack of normal surrounding tissues. We suggest V-Y adipofascial flap using the surrounding superficially damaged tissue. We present the case of a patient who was referred for full-thickness burn on gluteal region. We performed serial debridement and applied vacuum-assisted closure device to defective area as wound preparation for coverage. When healthy granulation tissue grew adequately, we covered the defect with surrounding V-Y adipofascial flap and the raw surface of the flap was then covered with split-thickness skin graft. We think the use of subcutaneous fat as an adipofascial flap to cover the deeper defect adjacent to the flap is an excellent alternative especially in huge defect with uneven depth varying from subcutaneous fat to bone exposure in terms of minimal donor site morbidity and reliability of the flap. Even if the flap was not intact, it was reuse of the adjacent tissue of the injured area, so it is relatively safe and applicable.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.72-74
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• 2016

The keystone flap is a fascia-based island flap with two conjoined V-Y flaps. Here, we report a case of successful treatment of a trochanter pressure sore patient with the traditional keystone flap. A 50-year-old male patient visited our department with a $3{\times}5cm$ pressure sore (grade III) to the left of the greater trochanter that was covered with eschar. Debridement was done and the defect size increased to $5{\times}8cm$ in an elliptical shape. Doppler ultrasound was then used to locate the inferior gluteal artery perforator near the wound. The keystone flap was designed to the medial side. The perforator based keystone island flap covered the defect without resistance. The site remained clean, and no dehiscence, infection, hematoma, or seroma developed. In general, greater trochanter pressure sores are covered with a perforator based propeller flap or fascia lata flap. However, these flaps have the risk of pedicle kinking and require a large operation site. For the first time, we successfully applied the keystone flap to treat a greater trochanter pressure sore patient. Our design was also favorable with the relaxation skin tension lines. We conclude that the keystone flap including a perforator is a reliable option to reconstruct trochanteric pressure sores.