• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 1996

The reconstruction of esophageal defect after ablative surgery have more difficult than other digestive tract tumor because the restoration of anatomical and physiologic function is difficult, the risk of tumor invasion into the adjacent tissue is large. The reconstruction of cervical esophus was depended on the degree of resection of the esophagus, various reconstruction method was developed to minimize functional deficiency and deformity of cervical region. Recently, the free jejunal transfer or free radial forearm flap was commonly utilized for esophageal reconstruction due to development of technique of the microvascular anastomosis. After the esophageal reconstruction used by free jejunal transfer was reported by Seidenberg in 1951, jejunum is most commonly used for reconstruction of esophgus. Becaue of, it have been tubed anatomical similarity with muscular layer, relative small risk of complication, possible of oral intake within 10 days after operation, and early rehabilitaion. Authors have been treated esophageal defect with free jejunal transfer in 7 patients after resection of lesion in 6 eshageal cancer and 1 esophageal stricture from December 1994 to January 1996. We were transferred jejunum used by intercostal artery as recipient artery in 3 cases, it was satisfied with results. If intercostal artery was utilized as recipient artery for free jejunal transfer, we believe that any site of intrathoracic or intraabdominal esophageal defect is possible to recontruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2005

Skull base tumors have been determined inoperable because it is difficult to accurately diagnose the extent of the involvement and to approach and excise the tumor safely. However, recently, the advent of sophisticated diagnostic tools such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as the craniofacial and neurosurgical advanced techniques enabled an accurate determination of operative plans and safe approach for tumor excision. Resection of these tumors may sometimes result in massive and complex extirpation defects that are not amenable to local tissue closure. The purpose of this study is to analyze experiences of skull base reconstruction and to evaluate long term survival rate and complications. All cranial base reconstructions performed from July 1993 to September 2000 at Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Seoul National University Hospital were observed. The medical records were reviewed and analysed to assess the location of defects, reconstruction method, existence of the dural repair, history of preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, complications and causes of death of the expired patients. There were 12 cases in region II, 8 cases in region I and 1 case in region III according to the Irish classification of skull base. Cranioplasty was performed in 4 patients with a bone graft and microvascular free tissue transfer was selected in 17 patients to reconstruct the cranial base and/or mid-facial defects. Among them, 11 cases were reconstructed with a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap, 2 with a latissimus dorsi muscluocutaneous free flap, 1 with a fibular osteocutaneous free flap, 2 with a scapular osteocutaneous free flap, and 1 with a forearm fasciocutaneous free flap, respectively. During over 3 years follow-up, 5 patients were expired and 8 lesions were relapsed. Infection(3 cases) and partial flap loss(2 cases) were the main complications and multiorgan failure(3 cases) by cancer metastasis and sepsis(2 cases) were causes of death. Statistically 4-years survival rate was 68%. A large complex defects were successfully reconstructed by one-stage operation and, the functional results were also satisfactory with acceptable survival rates.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.640-643
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• 2000

Objective : In neurosurgical practice, it has been generally accepted that when the dura is opened, it should be watertightly closed, and traditionally non-watertight closure has not been performed. We clinically tried non-watertight closure, analyzed the frequency of CSF leakage and evaluated the possible clinical application of non-watertight closure. Methods : After classifying our cases with supratentorial and infratentorial approach, we tried non-watertight and watertight closures and compared the results. We also analyzed the cases with or without dural graft. Results : In supratentorial approach, the rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage noted in non-watertight closure was similar to that of watertight closure. In infratentorial approach, except microvascular decompression(MVD), the rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in non-watertight closure was higher than that of watertight closure. Dura graft application did not seemed to influence the cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Conclusion : Since the frequency of cerebrospinal fluid leakage was not higher in non-watertight closure than that of watertight closure, non-watertight closure can be applied in supratentorial approach. In infratentorial approach, non-watertight closure may be applied in surgery with relatively short dural incision, such as MVD. However, non-watertight closure doesn't seem to be appropriate in surgery that requires wide dural incision, such as skull base surgery.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2020

Background: Free-flap reconstruction for recurrent head and neck cancer may be challenging depending on the previous treatments, those are, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, including neck dissection or free tissue transfer. Specifically, the previous treatment could compromise the neck vessels, thereby making free-flap reconstruction more difficult. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between previous treatments and vascular compromise of the free flap. Methods: In this retrospective study, 124 free-flap reconstructions in 116 patients for recurrent head and neck cancer between 1993 and 2017 were investigated. The demographic characteristics, previous treatments, flap choices, infections, recipient vessels, and vascular crises were evaluated. Results: Of the 124 reconstruction cases, 10 had vascular crises. There were six revisions, totaling six flap failures. The success rate of free-flap reconstruction for recurrent cancer was 95.2%, which significantly differed from that for primary cancer (98.8%, p= 0.006). Moreover, in the recurrent cancer group, no correlation was found between previous treatments and vascular crises (p> 0.05). Increased rates of contralateral or uncommon anastomoses were found following neck dissection (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Previous neck dissection or radiotherapy could lead to scarring and tissue damage, which could in turn make microvascular reconstruction more challenging; however, the effect was not definite in this study. Approximately 60% of patients with previous neck dissection had compromised ipsilateral recipient vessels, which resulted in contralateral or uncommon anastomoses. In this study, free-flap reconstruction seems to be quite safe and preferable in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer based on the overall survival rate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.304-311
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• 2013

With an increasing emphasis on microsurgery skill acquisition through simulated training, the need has been identified for standardised training programmes in microsurgery. We have reviewed microsurgery training courses available across the six continents of the World. Data was collected of relevant published output from PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), and EMBASE (Ovid) searches, and from information available on the Internet of up to six established microsurgery course from each of the six continents of the World. Fellowships and courses that concentrate on flap harvesting rather than microsurgical techniques were excluded. We identified 27 centres offering 39 courses. Total course length ranged from 20 hours to 1,950 hours. Student-to-teacher ratios ranged from 2:1 to 8:1. Only two-thirds of courses offered in-vivo animal models. Instructions in microvascular end-to-end and end-to-side anastomoses were common, but peripheral nerve repair or free groin flap transfer were not consistently offered. Methods of assessment ranged from no formal assessment, where an instructor monitored and gave instant feedback, through immediate assessment of patency and critique on quality of repair, to delayed re-assessment of patency after a 12 to 24 hours period. Globally, training in microsurgery is heterogeneous, with variations primarily due to resource and regulation of animal experimentation. Despite some merit to diversity in curricula, there should be a global minimum standard for microsurgery training.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1992

The management of giant cell tumor involving juxta-articular portion has always been a difficult problem. In certain some giant cell tumors with bony destruction, a wide segmental resection may be needed for preventing to recur. But a main problem is preserving of bony continuity in bony defect as well as preservation of joint function. The traditional bone grafts have high incidence in recurrence rate, delayed union, bony resorption, stress fracture despite long immobilization and stiffness of adjuscent joint. We have attemped to overcome these problems by using a microvascular technique to transfer the fibula with peroneal vascular pedicle as a living bone graft. From Apr. 1984 to Nov. 1990, we performed the reconstruction of wide bone defect after segmental resection of giant cell tumor in 4 cases, using Vascularized Fibular Graft, which occur at the distal radius in 3 cases and at the proximal tibia in 1 case. An average follow-up was 2 years 8 months, average bone defect after wide segmental resection of lesion was 11.4cm. These all cases revealed good bony union in average 6.5months, and we got the wide range of motion of adjacent joint without recurrence and serious complications.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2003

Purpose : Various free flaps and pedicled island flaps are effective for reconstruction of soft tissue defect developed after tumor excision. We want to know the advantage of dorsalis pedis island flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defect caused by soft tissue tumor excision. Materials and Methods : Between 1992 and 2002, we performed 4 dorsalis pedis island flap procedure for reconstruction of soft tissue defect of lower limb developed after soft tissue tumor excision. Average age was 54.7 years old $(40{\sim}68)$, and male 2 cases, female 2 cases. The kinds and number of soft tissue tumors were 2 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 malignant melanoma. The procedures that we performed were all dorsalis pedis island flap. The analysis for the result of treatment was retrospectively accessed by physical examination and questionnaire for whether the change of symptom after operation, range of adjacent joint motion. Also we reviewed associated complication after operative treatment. Results : All dorsalis pedis island flaps were alive. There is no problem for activity of daily living, no skin necrosis and no limitation of motion of adjacent joint. In 1 case of them, the patients died of distant metastasis. Conclusion: Dorsalis pedis island flap procedure as a pedicled island flap procedure is very effective and easy operative procedure for reconstruction of soft tissue defect of lower limb developed after tumor excision compared to free flap procedure because there is no need for microvascular surgery, we can obtain relatively large flap and the lesion and flap donor site locate in the same limb.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

Background Autologous fat grafts have been widely used for cosmetic purposes and for soft tissue contour reconstruction. Because diabetes mellitus is one of the major chronic diseases in nearly every country, the requirement for fat grafts in diabetes patients is expected to increase continuously. However, the circulation complications of diabetes are serious and have been shown to involve microvascular problems, impairing ischemia-driven neovascularization in particular. After injection, revascularization is vital to the survival of the grafted fat. In this study, the authors attempted to determine whether the diabetic condition inhibits the survival of injected fat due to impaired neovascularization. Methods The rat scalp was used for testing fat graft survival. Forty-four seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to a diabetic group or a control group. 1.0 mL of processed fat was injected subcutaneously into the scalp of each rat. The effect of diabetes was evaluated by calculating the volume and the weight of the grafted fat and by histologically analyzing the fat sections. Results The surviving fat graft volume and weight were considerably smaller in the diabetic group than in the control group (P<0.05), and histological evaluations showed less vascularity, and more cysts, vacuoles, and fibrosis in the diabetic group (P<0.05). Cellular integrity and inflammation were not considerably different in the two groups. Conclusions As the final outcome, we found that the presence of diabetes might impair the survival and the quality of fat grafts, as evidenced by lower fat graft weights and volumes and poor histologic graft quality.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2009

Purpose: As a recipient vessel, internal mammary vessels have many advantages for microvascular reconstruction of the breast. But the approach is time consuming and results in large morbidities. However, the perforating branches of the internal mammary vessels can be used to minimize such demerits. The purpose of this cadaver study is to clarify the location and diameter of the perforating branches of internal mammary vessels and to prove they are safe and reliable recipient vessels. Methods: We studied 11 formalin - fixed cadavers and dissected their anterior chests bilaterally. The chests were exposed using midline presternal incisions. We dissected and found all perforators at subfascial planes under loupe magnification. The number, external diameter, and the distance from the midline were measured. Result: The mean external diameter of the arterial perforators was 1.32 mm and the mean external diameter of the venous perforators was 1.48 mm. The largest arterial and venous perforators were most frequently found in the second intercostal space. The mean distance from the midline to the perforator was evaluated; the artery averaged 1.95 cm and the vein averaged 2.08 cm. Conclusion: This study will be helpful when using the internal mammary perforating vessels as a recipient vessel during breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2013

Background Partial or complete necrosis of a skin flap is a common problem. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) can be extracted from trout sperm and used as a tissue repair agent. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PDRN could improve the survival of random pattern skin flaps in rats. Methods Twenty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: the PDRN treatment group (n=11) and the control group (n=11). Caudally pedicled random pattern skin flaps were elevated on their dorsal skin and resutured. The treatment group received daily intraperitoneal administration of PDRN (8 mg/kg/day), and the control group received fluid vehicle (NaCl 0.9%, 8 mg/kg/day) from day 0 to day 6. On day 7, the flap survival was evaluated and the harvested tissue surrounding the demarcation line of the necrotic area was stained with H&E, anti-rat vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) antibody, and PECAM-1/CD31 antibody. Results The average necrotic area of the flap in the PDRN group was significantly smaller when compared with that of the control group. Histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation showed that granulation thickness score and VEGF-positive staining cells were marked higher in the PDRN group than in the control group. PECAM-1/CD31-positive microvascular densities were significantly higher in the PDRN group when compared with the control group. Conclusions This study confirms that PDRN improves the survival of random pattern skin flaps in rats. These results may represent a new therapeutic approach to enhancing flap viability and achieving faster wound repair.