• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.619-621
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• 2020

This article portrays the authors' clinical experience of a complex case of lower extremity reconstruction using a recycled pedicle from 10 years old free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap to supply a new free anterolateral thigh flap for proximal tibia wound defect reconstruction. It provides clinical evidence that muscle neovascularization occurs and supports the dogma peripheral tissue neovascularization. This case stipulates that recycling of pedicle is feasible, when used with appropriate strategy and safety and also provides evidence for the long-term survival of greater saphenous vein grafts in lower extremity reconstruction.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.416-420
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• 2019

Reconstruction method choice in recurrent head and neck cancer depends on surgical history, radiation therapy dosage, conditions of recipient vessels, and general patient condition. Furthermore, when defects are multiple or three dimensional in nature, reconstruction and flap choice aimed at rebuilding the functional structure of the head and neck are difficult. We experienced successful reconstruction of recurrent laryngeal cancer requiring reconstruction of esophageal and tracheostomy stroma defects using a chimeric two-skin anterolateral thigh flap with a single pedicle.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 1994

Pulp and palm of the hand and heel of the sole are anatomically unique. Satisfactory reconstruction of these areas presents the plastic surgeon with many challenges and requires durable and sensible skin coverage, minimal donor morbidity and reliable operative procedure. We presents 7 clinical cases of sensate instep free flap transfer in this paper during the last 2 years. Three cases were soft tissue defects due to crushing and avulsion injury on the pulp of finger. 1 case was unstable scar and redundant flap after reconstruction of soft tissue dect of palm and 1 case was contracture of first web of hand. One case was a soft tissue defect due to avulsion injury on heel. Lastly, one case was chronic osteomyelitis with open wound on lateral malleolar area. Follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 2 years. Through the whole follow-up period, all flaps were viable and durable to persistant stress or weight bearing and were sensible enough to porotect the recocstructed area from injuries and maintain functions. In conclusions, the instep free flap should be considered as a valuable tool in reconstruction of hand and extremity requiring durability and sensation.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.526-530
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• 2009

Recently, the anterolateral thigh(ALT) flap, based on the septocutaneous vessels or musculocutaneous perforators from the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery has gained popularity in head and neck soft-tissue reconstruction. It has some advantages in free-flap surgery with respect to the radial forearm free flap, such as low donor site morbidity, availability of different tissues with large amounts of skin, adaptability as a sensate or flow-through flap (with the possibility of harvesting a long pedicle with a suitable vessel diameter). Moreover, the thickness of the flap is adjustable until the subdermal fat level, allowing it to be used as a thin or ultrathin flap. This clinical cases are ALT free flap reconstructions without functional impairment of the donor limbs (transitory and permanent) based on anastomosis with superficial temporal arteries and veins in patient of huge resection defect on face, lip and tongue.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4137-4140
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• 2012

The authors present five cases of combined oral mucosa-mandible defects reconstructed with the vascularized internal oblique-iliac crest myoosseous free flap. This technique has many advantages compared to other conventional methods such as the radial flap, scapula flap, and fibula flap. Vascularized iliac crest flaps provide sufficient high-quality bone suitable for reconstructing segmental madibular defects. Although fibular flaps allow longer donor bone tissue to be harvested, the iliac crest can provide an esthetic shape for mandibular body reconstruction and also provides sufficient bone height for dental implants. Conventional vascularized iliac crest myoosseous flaps have excessive soft tissue bulk for reconstruction of intraoral soft tissue defects. The modification discussed in the present article can reduce soft tissue volume, resulting in better functional reconstruction of the oral mucosa. Another advantage is that complete replacement of the oral mucosa is observed in as early as one month post-operation. The final mucosal texture is much better than that obtained with other skin paddle flaps, which is especially beneficial for the placement of dental implant prostheses. Donor site morbidity looks to be similar to, if not less than that observed for other modalities in terms of function and esthetics. For combined oral mucosa-mandible defects, the vascularized internal oblique-iliac crest myoosseous free flap shows good results with respect to hard and soft tissue reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.495-503
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• 2018

With significant improvements in success rates for free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, attention has turned to donor site morbidity associated with osteocutaneous free flaps. In this review, we address the morbidity associated with harvest of the four most commonly used osteocutaneous flaps; the free fibula flap, the scapula flap, the iliac crest flap and the radial forearm flap. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify articles relevant to donor site morbidity for these flaps. We assessed morbidity in terms of incidence of delayed healing, chronic pain, aesthetic outcomes, site specific complications and patient satisfaction/quality of life. Weighted means were calculated when sufficient studies were available for review. The radial forearm and free fibula flaps are associated with high rates of delayed healing of approximately 20% compared to the scapular (<10%) and iliac flaps (5%). The radial forearm flap has higher rates of chronic pain (16.7%) and dissatisfaction with scar appearance (33%). For the majority of these patients harvest of one of these four osteocutaneous does not limit daily function at long-term follow-up. The scapular osteocutaneous flap is associated with the lowest relative morbidity and should be strongly considered when the recipient defect allows. The radial forearm is associated with higher morbidity in terms of scarring, fractures, chronic pain and wrist function and should not be considered as first choice when other flap options are available.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.183-188
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• 2005

Defect on the temporal area caused by, surgical ablation of a tumor or an infection should be reconstructed immediately to prevent potentially life-threatening complications such as meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The defect on the temporal area usually presents as a typical 'cone-shape'. Successful reconstruction requires sufficient volume of well-vascularized soft tissue to cover the exposed bone and dura. From 1994 through 2003, the authors applied rectus abdominis free flap for the reconstruction of the temporal defect from 1994 through 2003. There were 10 patients with a mean age of 52.1 years. Of these 10 patients, external auditory canal cancer was present in four patients, temporal bone cancer in two, parotid gland cancer in one and three patients were reconstructed after debridement of infection(destructive chronic otitis media). All the free flaps survived, and flap-related complications did not occur. Compared to a local flap, the rectus abdominis free flap can provide sufficient volume of well-vascularized tissue to cover the large defect and can be well-tolerated during an adjuvant radiation therapy. The long and flat muscle can be easily molded to fit in to the 'cone-shape' temporal defect without dead space. It is also preferred because of the low donor site morbidity, a large skin island and an excellent vascular pedicle. Two-team approach without position change is possible. In conclusion, the authors think that rectus abdominis free flap should be considered as one of the most useful method for the reconstruction of a cone-shaped temporal defect.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2004

Flaps are necessary, when important structures such as bone, tendon, nerve and vessel are exposed. Arterialized venous free flap is suited to the coverage of finger and hand because the thickness of venous flap is thin. Authors performed 65 cases arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of the hand and finger. The size of donor defect were from $1{\times}1cm\;to\;7{\times}12cm$. The mean flap area was $9.1cm^2$. The recipient sites were finger tip in 34 cases, finger shaft in 29 cases and hand in 2 cases. The donor sites were volar aspect of distal forearm in 40 cases, thenar area in 17 cases and foot dorsum in 6 cases. The types of arterialized venous free flap were A-A type in 4 cases and A-V type in 61 cases. The length of afferent vein was from 0.5 cm to 3 cm (mean 1.7 cm) and efferent vein was from 1 cm to 10 cm (mean 2.2 cm). 58 flaps(89.2%) survived eventually. 42 flaps(64.6%) survived totally without any complication. 8 flaps(12.3%) showed the partial necrosis but they were healed without any additional operations. 8 flaps (12.3%) showed the partial necrosis requiring the additional skin graft. We had a satisfactory result by using arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of finger and hand. We believe that volar aspect of distal forearm, thenar area, foot dorsum are suited as a donor site and the short length of the flap pedicle, the strong arterail inflow affect the survival rate of arterialized venous free flaps.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

The aim of extremity reconstruction has focused on early wound coverage and functional recovery but rarely aesthetics. As the quality of life improves, however, the request for aesthetics has been growing. The authors has conducted retrospective reviews on the 86 cases that had extremity reconstruction using free flap, considering the characteristics of parts that had been assessed in primary operation between May 1996 and December 2010. Aesthetic grading was performed in four categories; color, texture, contour and marginal scar. Recipient sites were 42 hands, 19 feet, 14 lower extremities excluding feet and 10 upper extremities apart from the hand. Types of free flap were 16 latissimus dorsi free flaps, 13 anterolateral thigh free flaps, 12 dorsalis pedis free flaps, 8 transvers rectus abdominis free flaps, 7 gracillis free flaps, and 5 superficial temporal fascia free flaps. Total flap necrosis was seen in 8 cases(9.3%) and partial necrosis in 5 cases(5.8%). Secondary revision was done in 24 cases(27.9%) and the most common revision, debulking was done in 14 cases(16.3%). The authors has considered cosmetic aspects along with wound coverage and functional recovery in primary reconstruction. The results of aesthetic grading was 16.2 out of 20, and the secondary revision rate was reduced.

• 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.