• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.587-592
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• 2007

Purpose: In case of postburn flexion contracture of the fingers, skin graft, geometrical relaxation techniques, local flap, and free flap have been used. Among these procedures, full-thickness skin grafts from the inguinal area are widely used to reconstruct a postburn flexion contracture in the fingers. But there are many esthetic and functional problems in this procedure. Especially, hyperpigmentation of the skin-grafted fingers poses a troublesome problem, particularly in the patients who have dark colored skin. To solve the problem, we have used pulp graft which was harvested from the lateral aspect of great toe. In the present study, we report pulp graft, with which we have obtained a good result in the treatment of postburn flexion contracture of the fingers. Methods: Between September of 2004 and August of 2006, great toe pulp graft was performed to 20 sites of 15 patients. After release of the postburn flexion contracture using Z-plasty, the composite tissue (pulp) harvested from the lateral aspect of great toe was grafted on the raw surface. Moisture dressing with ointment and foam dressing material was performed. Stratum corneum of the graft got stripped off in two to four weeks after pulp graft. The color of the pulp graft was slightly reddish, then it became similar to the adjacent tissue. Results: There was complete take in all the patients who were treated with pulp graft. Great toe pulp graft provided similar color and texture to the adjacent skin, high rate of graft take, and left only a minimal scar at donor site. Conclusion: Thick keratin layer and inelastic nature of the pulp make this type of the graft much easier and simpler, and ensure a better take. Pulp graft is useful method for the reconstruction of the postburn flexion contracture in fingers.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2013

This study was conducted to enhance graft-take ratio and quality of grafted tomato seedlings by controlling temperature and humidity during the healing and acclimatization processes. Three temperature levels ($20^{\circ}C$, $23^{\circ}C$, and $26^{\circ}C$) were carried out to determine optimum temperature on four rootstocks. In addition, twelve combinations of three relative humidity levels (70%, 80%, and 90%) and four temperature levels ($17^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $23^{\circ}C$, and $26^{\circ}C$) were set up to evaluate the effect of relative humidity and temperature on the graft-take ratio of grafted seedlings. In the other hand, five relative humidity periods (H0, H1, H2, H3, and H4: 90% relative humidity for first 0, 1, 2, 3 and 10 days and afterwards relative humidity was reduced to 70%, respectively) were examined effect of relative humidity periods on the graft-take and quality of grafted seedlings. The higher graft-take ratios (84.0~87.4%) were showed at $23^{\circ}C$ compared to $20^{\circ}C$ and $26^{\circ}C$ in all rootstocks. Graft-take ratios decreased and number of diseased plants increased at high temperature. The graft-take ratios increased with increasing relative humidity in all temperature levels on the $3^{rd}$ and $7^{th}$ day after grafting. However, increasing relative humidity significantly increased percent of diseased plants. The graft-take ratio reduced at ($26^{\circ}C$) and ($17^{\circ}C$) temperature under all relative humidity conditions. The graft-take ratio increased with increasing period of 90% relative humidity. Maximum graft-take ratios were observed in H2 and H3 treatments. Graft-take ratio decreased with increasing 90% relative humidity for 10 days (H4). Diseased plants had not been found in H0, H1, H2, and H3 treatments. Seedling quality was improved through increasing fresh and dry weight of root, compactness, and root morphology of tomato seedlings in H2 and H3 treatments. Therefore, high relative humidity (90%) for first 2 or 3 days and afterwards reduced low relative humidity (70%) at $23^{\circ}C$ condition during healing and acclimatization promoted the graft-take and quality of grafted tomato seedlings.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.716-722
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• 2008

Purpose: Split or full thickness skin graft is generally used to reconstruct the palmar skin and soft tissue defect after release of burn scar flexion contracture of hand. As a way to overcome and improve aesthetic and functional problems, the authors used the preserved superficial fat skin(PSFS) composite graft for correction of burn scar contracture of hand. Methods: From December of 2001 to July of 2007, thirty patients with burn scar contracture of hand were corrected. The palmar skin and soft tissue defect after release of burn scar contracture was reconstructed with the PSFS composite graft harvested from medial foot or below lateral and medial malleolus, with a preserved superficial fat layer. To promote take of the PSFS composite graft, a foam and polyurethane film dressing was used to maintain the moisture environment and Kirschner wire was inserted for immobilization. Before and after the surgery, a range of motion was measured by graduator. Using a chromameter, skin color difference between the PSFS composite graft and surrounding normal skin was measured and compared with full thickness skin graft from groin. Results: In all cases, the PSFS composite graft was well taken without necrosis, although the graft was as big as $330mm^2$(mean $150mm^2$). Contracture of hand was completely corrected without recurrence. The PSFS composite graft showed more correlations and harmonies with surrounding normal skin and less pigmentation than full thickness skin graft. Donor site scar was also obscure. Conclusion: The PSFS composite graft should be considered as a useful option for correction of burn scar flexion contracture of hand.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 1973

The authors have treated a squamous-cell carcinoma occurred in molar region of the right mandible in 52-year old woman by means of bony resection and banked tibial bone graft, and made the normal appearance of her face. The result as follow: 1) The healing of a graft is similar to the healing of an uninfected fracture except that it will take considerably longer. It is of the utmost importance that it should be well immobilized, otherwsie there is danger of absorption of bone and fibrous union. 2) Until the graft acquires a blood supply it is easily infected, for it has no defence against organisms, so it is most important to prevent wound infection set in.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.341-345
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• 2015

Background A tie-over dressing is the accepted method to secure skin grafts in order to prevent haematoma or seroma formation. We describe the novel application of a barbed suture tie-over for skin graft dressing. The barbs act as anchors in the skin so constant tensioning of the suture is not required. Methods From January 2014 to August 2014 we used the technique in 30 patients with skin defects requiring split-thickness or full-thickness grafts. Patient demographics, clinicopathological details and graft outcome were collected prospectively. Results The majority of cases were carried out for split-thickness skin grafts (n=19) used on the lower limb (n=20). The results of this novel technique were excellent with complete (100%) graft take in all patients. Conclusions Our results demonstrate the clinical application of a barbed device for securing skin grafts with excellent results. We find the technique quick to perform and the barbed device easy to handle, which can be applied without the need for an assistant.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.607-612
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• 2005

A traditional tie-over dressing may be applied to support the take of a skin graft. Although there are many advantage of this method, it has significant disadvantages, including time-consuming application. Furthermore, when the dressing is changed, the gauze becomes hard and can be stuck to the graft, causing damage and pain upon removal. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the effect of semi-occlusive dressing using polyurethane foam and film dressing($Allevyn^{(R)}$, $Opsite^{(R)}$) after full thickness skin graft. The authors treated 45 cases including burn scar contracture(n=38), syndactyly (n=1), absence of nipple-areolar complex(n=4), traumatic skin defect(n=1) and contact burn(n=1) with authors' method and 39 patients including burn scar contracture (n=39) with the tie-over dressing between 2000 and 2004. The patients in polyurethane foam and film dressing group ranged from 1 to 62 years of age (mean age, 15.1 years) and the patients in tie-over dressing group ranged from 2 to 60 years of age(mean age, 21.3 years). The postoperative results were analyzed according to the following measures: (1) the duration of graft-taking, (2) the admission period, (3) complications. Compared with the traditional tie-over dressing, polyurethane foam and film dressing was shown to be more successful in a reduced duration of graft-taking, in which was similar to the former in the rate of graft-taking, a reduced admission period and patient's discomfort. We concluded that semi-occlusive dressing using $Allevyn^{(R)}$ and $Opsite^{(R)}$ was an effective method after full thickness skin graft, which was easy to shape to difficult body locations, such as web spaces, fingers and maintains a moist environment for wound healing and does not stick to the wound.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.418-423
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• 2016

Background Skin grafting is a relatively simple and thus widely used procedure. However, the elastic and structural quality of grafted skin is poor. Recently, various dermal substitutes have been developed to overcome this disadvantage of split-thickness skin grafts. The present study aims to determine the feasibility of RapiGraft as a new dermal substitute. Methods This prospective study included 20 patients with partial- or full-thickness skin defects; the patients were enrolled between January 2013 and March 2014. After skin defect debridement, the wound was divided into two parts by an imaginary line. Split-thickness skin grafting alone was performed on one side (group A), and RapiGraft and split-thickness skin grafting were used on the other side (group B). All patients were evaluated using photographs and self-questionnaires. The Manchester scar scale (MSS), a chromameter, and a durometer were used for the scar evaluation. The average follow-up period was 6 months. Results The skin graft take rates were 93% in group A and 89% in group B, a non-significant difference (P=0.082). Statistically, group B had significantly lower MSS, vascularity, and pigmentation results than group A (P<0.05 for all). However, the groups did not differ significantly in pliability (P=0.155). Conclusions The present study indicates that a simultaneous application of RapiGraft and a split-thickness skin graft is safe and yields improved results. Therefore, we conclude that the use of RapiGraft along with skin grafting will be beneficial for patients requiring reconstructive surgery.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2009

This study was performed to evaluate the influence of temperature, relative humidity, and light conditions during healing and acclimatization on the graft-take and growth of grafted peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), in order to propose optimum environmental conditions for the healing and acclimatization of grafted peppers. The healing and acclimatization period was for six days and was divided into three stages (Stage I, II and III), of which each period was two days. Grafted peppers were healed under the condition of 30 and 95% relative humidity (RH) during Stage I. During Stage II and III, grafted peppers were healed and acclimatized under different temperatures ($20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$, or $30^{\circ}C$) and RH conditions (75%, 85% or 95%). The growth of grafted peppers was greater under lower temperature and lower relative humidity conditions. The graft-take just after the end of healing and acclimatization was greater grafted peppers under high RH condition. However, the graft-take of peppers which were healed and acclimatized under $30^{\circ}C$ and RH 95%, dropped by about 10 percent on day seven after healing and acclimatization. And also, grafted peppers were healed and acclimatized under the different temperatures ($25^{\circ}C$ or $30^{\circ}C$), RH conditions (65%, 75% or 85%), and light condition (dark or light). Lower RH (to 65%) and light condition at $25^{\circ}C$ during healing and acclimatization promoted the graft-take and growth of grafted peppers.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 2024

Background Skin defects in the hands are common injuries, and autologous skin grafting is the ideal treatment. However, complications can occur at the donor and recipient sites. This study compares the "Swing-door" technique with conventional skin grafting. Methods From August 2019 to February 2023, 19 patients with skin defects of hand underwent the "Swing-door" split-thickness skin graft (STSG) technique. The thin epithelial layer was elevated with proximal part attached. Skin graft was harvested beneath. Donor site was then closed with epithelial flap like a "Swing-door". The outcomes were evaluated in terms of healing time, scar formation, and pain at the donor and recipient sites. The data were compared with the conventional STSG. Results The "Swing-door" group had lower graft take percentages, but complications did not significantly differ between the two groups. The "Swing-door" technique resulted in better cosmetic outcomes, as evidenced by lower Vancouver Scar Scale scores, faster donor site epithelialization, and reduced pain and discomfort during the early postoperative period, as measured by Visual Analog Scale. Conclusion The "Swing-door" STSG is a useful alternative for treating hand skin defects.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2004

One of the major advantages of microsurgical reconstruction for defects of the hand is that these techniques allow for selection of the most ideal tissue to reconstruct a particular defect, thus optimizing the functional and aesthetic outcome. The dorsalis pedis free flap is an excellent reconstructive tool for various hand reconstructions. It has a reliable vasculature with vessels that are relative large on a long pedicle. It provides thin pliable tissue and be innervated by deep peroneal nerve. Coupled with its thinness and pliability, it is ideal for innervated cover of critically sensitive area, especially such as the hand. Thus it can be used as a cutaneotendinous flap, or an osteocutaneous flap. Otherwise, the major criticism with this flap is related to its uncertain vascularity and the donor defect. It is the purpose of this paper to outline our technique of flap elevation and donor site closure and to indicate our current use of this flap in hand reconstruction. We have treated 10 cases (6 burn scar contracture cases, 4 acute hand trauma cases) of hand reconstruction from Dec. 3, 1997 to Mar. 4, 2004 using dorsalis pedis free flap. The key points for sucess in terms of a viable flap and acceptable donor site are the preservation of the critical dorsalis pedis-first dorsal metatarsal vascular axis and the creation of a viable bed for grafting. In addition, we substituted preserved superficial fat skin graft for split thickness skin graft and wet environment was offered for good graft take. Preserved superficial fat skin is defined as composite graft containing epidermis, dermis and superficial fat layer. With sufficient care in flap elevation and donor site closure, a good graft take of preserved superficial fat skin under wet environment can be achieved with no functional disability and minimal cosmetic deformity in donor site. This flap has proved itself to be a best choice for hand reconstruction.