• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 1994

Large oral defects following tumor resection pose formidable challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. Ideally, wound closure should utilize like tissue in providing expedient, single-stage closure, returning maximum function while minimizing deformity. Recent methods have reported and utilize variable mucocutaneous flaps. However, the ideal reconstruction has yet to defined. The small bowel serves as a readily available donor site for satisfying reconstructive needs in oropharyngeoesophageal defects. Segments of jejunum may be opened along the antimesenteric border and transferred to oral defect as free tissue transfers. Some of the benefits of this technique have included a one-stage procedure, abundant donor tissue with characteristics similar to oral mucosa, near normal facial appearance, preservation of maximum tongue function and relief of annoying xerostomia by jejunal mucous secretion. Three cases re presented in which two cases show successful use of this flap. The other one patient developed total necrosis of this flap. We report cases of reconstruction using free jejunal flap transfer in oral reconstruction.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.376-379
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• 2020

Supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) flap is a common donor site for vascularized lymph node transfer for the treatment of lymphedema. Chyle leakage is a rare but serious complication after harvesting SCLN flap in the neck. We report a case of chyle leakage at the SCLN donor site and its successful management. A 52-year-old woman underwent SCLN transfer for treatment of lower extremity lymphedema. After starting a regular diet and wheelchair ambulation on the 3rd postoperative day, the amount of drainage at the donor site increased (8-62 mL/day) with the color becoming milky, which suggested a chyle leak. Despite starting a low-fat diet on the 4th postoperative day, the chyle leakage persisted (70 mL/day). The patient was started on fat-free diet on the 5th postoperative day. The amount of drainage started to decrease and the drain color became more clear within 24 hours. The drainage amount remained less than 10 mL/day from the 8th postoperative day, and we removed the drain on the 12th postoperative day. There was no seroma or other wound complications at follow-up 4 weeks after the operation. The current case demonstrates that a fat-free diet can be a first-line treatment for low output chyle leakage after a SCLN flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.378-396
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• 2022

Several reconstructive methods have been reported to restore the continuity of the aerodigestive tract following resection of pharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. However, high complication rates have been reported after voice prosthesis insertion. In this setting, the ileocolon free flap (ICFF) offers a tubularized flap for reconstruction of the hypopharynx while providing a natural phonation tube. Herein, we systematically reviewed the current evidence on the use of the ICFF for reconstruction of the aerodigestive tract. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE(R). Data on the technical considerations and surgical and functional outcomes were extracted. Twenty-one studies were included. The mean age and follow-up were 54.65 years and 24.72 months, respectively. An isoperistaltic or antiperistaltic standard ICFF, patch flap, or chimeric seromuscular-ICFF can be used depending on the patients' needs. The seromuscular chimeric flap is useful to augment the closure of the distal anastomotic site. The maximum phonation time, frequency, and sound pressure level (dB) were higher with ileal segments of 7 to 15 cm. The incidence of postoperative leakage ranged from 0 to 13.3%, and the majority was occurring at the coloesophageal junction. The revision rate of the microanastomosis ranged from 0 to 16.6%. The ICFF provides a reliable and versatile alternative for reconstruction of middle-size defects of the aerodigestive tract. Its three-dimensional configuration and functional anatomy encourage early speech and deglutition without a prosthetic valve and minimal donor-site morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2011

Purpose: Anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator free flap is commonly used because of its various benefits. The author reports important factors of preoperative and perioperative ALT perforator free flap and causes of failure. Methods: 84 patients who were treated with ALT perforator free flap from December 2004 to 2008, and February 2010 to April 2010 were studied. 61 patients were male and 23 were female. The mean age of patients was 51.1. The main cause was neoplasm and the main reconstructive areas were head and neck area. The size of flap was various from $3{\times}4$ to $12{\times}18$ cm. 6 patients received split thickness skin graft at donor site. Preoperative angiography was checked to all patients. Results: Among the 84 patients, partial necrosis of flaps occurred in 4 patients because of atherosclerosis, varicose vein, or inattention of patient, etc. And total flap necrosis in 5 patients because of abnormal vessels of recipient area or delay of operation, etc. One case of serous cyst was found as the complication of donor area. Two cases of skin graft on donor site were done because of suspected muscle compartment syndrome, 4 cases of that because of large flap. Septocutaneous perforators were found in 7 cases. The author couldn't find reliable perforator in 3 cases, ipsilateral anteromedial thigh perforator and contralateral ALT perforator and latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap were done instead of ALT. There was no case which needed reoperation because of the impairment of blood supply, and 3 cases were revised by leech because of the burn injury by a lamp or venous congestion. Conclusion: Although ALT perforator free flap is widely used with its various merits, many factors such as preoperative condition of donor or recipient area, morphology of defect and operating time need to consider to prevent flap necrosis. And operators should need careful technique because septocutaneous perforator is uncommon, and musculocutaneous perforator is common but difficult to dissect.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 1998

Microvascular surgery has been widely used clinically for over 30 years. Although many types of free skin and myocutaneous flap are being used at present, surgeons are still looking for new flaps to suit the specific requirements of different recipient sites, to reduce the deformity at the donor site, to ease the management of the flap and to increase the success rate of those operations. The lateral thigh free flap was designed and reported simultaneously with the medial thigh free flap by Baek in 1983. The flap, based on the third perforator of the profunda femoris artery. is designed on the posterolateral aspect of the distal thigh. Clinically, the vascular variations and the locations of perforators of this system can be determined preoperatively with simple angiograms and Dopper audiometry. The lateral thigh free flap is suitable for reconstruction of defects in an oral floor with tongue and esophageal deficits, scalp defects with dural defects, and large full thickness defects of the lip. The advantages of this flap are safe elevation, a long vascular pedicles with a large lumen, skin that is generally thin, and good pliability. Furthermore, the skin territory is very wide and long. The donor site is hidden and therefore more acceptable to the patient. The disadvantage of this flap is that the anatomy of the pedicle vessels has irregular derivation from the main vessel. We had reconstructed lateral thigh free flap to the nine patients from January, 1997 to July, 1998 and got satisfactory results. In this paper we illustrate the arterial anatomy of the thigh and usefulness of this flap for the reconstruction of the head and neck.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 1999

The laryngopharyngectomy for tumor ablation is the most common indication for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction in our country. Most of these cases are advanced laryngeal cancer that has spread beyond the larynx, pharynx and cervical esophagus. Such patients are obviously unable to breathe, swallow, or speak in the normal manner. The ideal reconstruction would restore normal anatomy, permitting patients to breathe and swallow without aspiration, and would not require a permanent tracheostomy. Reconstruction of the pharyngoesophageal defect traditionally been carried out with tubed local random flap, deltopectoral or musculocutaneous flap. Another approach is the pedicled enteric flap. But microsurgical reconstruction of the pharyngoesophagus, using either the free jejunal or the tubed radial forearm flap, have now become the preferred technique. Among them, we used jejunal free flap in 39 cases, tubed radial forearm free flap in 5 cases, patched radial forearm free flap in 2 cases and pectoralis major myocutaneous island flap in 2 cases from December 1990 to Febrary 1999. In this paper we illustrated that both forearm and jejunal free flap is a usful alternative in reconstruction of hypopharynx and cervical esophagus.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.432-435
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• 2007

Purpose: The jejunal free flap has the shorter ischemic time than other flap and requires a laparotomy to harvest it. As the evaluation of the perfusion the buried flap is very important, the perfusion of the buried jejunal free flap requires monitoring for its salvage. We tried to improve the monitoring flap method in the jejunal free flap and examined its usefulness. Methods: From March 2002 to March 2006, the monitoring flap method was applied to 4 cases in 8 jejunal free flaps for the pharyngeal and cervical esophageal reconstructions. The distal part of the jejunal flap was exposed without suture fixation through cervical wound for monitoring its perfusion. The status of perfusion was judged by the color change of jejunal mucosa and mesentery. If necessary, pin prick test was performed. Doppler sonography was applied to mesenteric pedicle of the monitoring flap in case of suspicious abnormal circulation. Results: The monitoring flap shows no change in 3 cases, but the congestion happened in one case at the 12 hours after the operation. This congestion was caused by the twisting or kinking of the mesenteric pedicle of the monitoring flap. So, we fixed up the monitoring flap close to adjacent cervical skin for prevention of rotation. Finally, the main part of transferred jejunal flap was intact. Conclusion: The success of a jejunal free flap depends on close postoperative monitoring and early detection of vascular compromise. So, various monitoring methods have been tried, for instance, direct visualization using a fiberoptic pharyngoscope, through a Silastic window placed in the neck flap, or external surface monitoring with an Doppler sonography, use of a buried monitoring probe. But, all of the above have their own shortcomings of simplicity, non-invasiveness, reliability and etc. In our experience, monitoring flap can be a accurate and reliable method.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2004

Introduction: The hand and wrist are particularly susceptible to electrical burn. Skin defect with damage or exposure of underlying vital structure requires coverage by skin flap especially in case of the need for late reconstruction. We are reporting 4 cases of electrical burned hand treated by posterior tibial arterial free flap. The commonly used skin flaps such as scapular flap or groin flap are too bulky so that they are not satisfactory in function and cosmetic appearance. So we tried to cover them with a more thin skin flap. Materials and Method: From January 2002 to June 2003, four cases of hand and wrist electrical burn were covered using posterior tibial arterial free flap. All the cases were due to high voltage electrical burn. Age ranged from 31 years to 38 years old and all the cases were male patients. Recipient sites were 2 wrist, one thenar area and one knuckle of 2.3rd MP joint. Additional procedures were flexor tenolysis (simultaneous), FPL tenolysis and digital nerve graft (later) and extensor tendon reconstruction (later). Result: All the flap have survived totally without any complication including circulatory concern about the donar foot. Posterior tibail arterial free flap was so thin that debulking procedure was not required. Conclusion: For skin coverage of the hand & wrist region, posterior tibial arterial free flap have many advantages such as reliable anatomy, easy dissection and easy anastmosis with radial or ulnar artery and possibility of sensory flap. The most helpful advantage for hand coverage is its thinness. So we think this flap is one of the very useful armamentarium for reconstructive hand surgery.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2008

Purpose: To present our experience with soft tissue reconstruction using anterolateral thigh free flap after resection of soft tissue sarcoma. Materials and Methods: Between January of 2003 and June of 2007, we treated 7 patients with soft tissue reconstruction using anterolateral thigh free flap after wide resection for soft tissue sarcoma. We retrospectively analyzed type and size of tumors, resection margin, size of defect after resection, time of operation, flap survival and complication. Results: The type of sarcoma was 3 synovial sarcoma, 2 malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 1 leimyosarcoma and 1 fibrosarcoma. The size of tumor varied from $3{\times}5\;cm$ to $7{\times}8\;cm$. The resection margins of tumors were negative in all cases. The size of soft tissue defect after resection varied from $6{\times}8\;cm$ to $15{\times}10\;cm$. The mean time of operation was 3.6 hours. All flaps were survived. Conclusion: Anterolateral thigh free flap appear to be ideal for reconstruction after wide resection of soft tissue sarcoma.

• 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.