• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.26-31
• /
• 2007

Background and Objectives：Microvascular free flap reconstruction has been revolutionized in last two decades, and became a standard option in the reconstruction of head and neck defects. We intended to review our experiences of 51 microvascular free flap for head and neck defects during 5-year period and to analyze the types of flaps according to primary sites, success and complication rates. Subjects and Methods：From Oct. 2001 through Dec. 2005, fifty one free flap reconstructions were performed in forty nine patients at ENT department of Soonchunhyang university bucheon hospital. Primary sites, pathology, T-stage, operative time, time interval of oral feeding, and various reconstructive factors such as recipient and donor vessels, free flap related complications, failure rates and salvage rates were retrospectively analyzed. The relation between complication rates and preoperative risk factors were statistically analyzed. Results：Methods of reconstruction were radial forearm free flap(RFFF)(n=28, 54.9%), anterolateral thigh free flaps(n=9, ALTFF)(17.6%), rectus abdominis free flap(n=7, RAFF)(13.7%), jejunal free flap(n=5, JFF)(9.8%), and miscellanous(n=2, 4.0%) in order. In free flap related complications, failure of free flap occurred in seven cases(13.7%) and pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred in five cases(9.8%) among fifty one free flaps. The overall success rate of free flaps was 86.3%. Salvage of free flaps was possible only one among eight cases(12.5%). In positive preoperative risk factor groups, failure of free flap was higher than in negative risk factor group. However, it was not statistically significant. Conclusion：We confirmed that free flap reconstructions are highly versatile and reliable options for use in the reconstruction of various soft tissue defects of the head and neck. Free flaps have gained great popularity given its versatility, ability for a two-team approach, and minimal donor site morbidity. However, complications related to microvascular surgery may be overcome by increased surgical experience and by intensive flap monitoring in early postoperative period.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2005

Perforator flaps have become increasingly popular in microsurgery nowadays and are being used widely for many cases of reconstruction after trauma and cancer ablation. And thoracodorsal perforator based free flap is one of them having the merits of carrying a large skin paddle with leaving intact innervation and function of the remaining latissimus dorsi muscle. We made a homogeneous thin flap excluding the main muscle with a long vascular pedicle and tried to decrease the donor site morbidity. But, it needs a long learning-curve and we have met marginal flap necrosis frequently. Besides, prolonged operation time for complete perforator dissection may be a tedious job to the microsurgeon. To overcome these disadvantages, we usually included very small portion of the latissimus dorsi muscle during this flap elevation around the pedicled 2-3 thoracodorsal perforators during this flap elevation. We performed 3 cases of thoracodorsal perforator based free flap at Hallym university sacred heart hospital between May and August 2005 for the soft tissue defect of the scalp and feet. The average flap size was $8{\times}14\;cm$. Although it is not a true perforator flap, we can get the reliability for the flap survival with much better blood circulation and save the time of one or two hours to dissect the perforators completely. All cutaneous flaps survived completely without any complication except one fatty female who had the very small superficial fat necrosis due to flap bulkiness. We believe the thoracodorsal perforator based free flap can be extended its versatility and reliability by including the very small portion of the muscle around the perforators.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.757-759
• /
• 2005

Acquired defects involving exposed bone on the forehead is challenging to reconstruct. Skin expansion provides an ideal thin flap for forehead aesthetic unit, but it takes long time and high cost, and many patients are dissatisfied at their figures. Free flap can provide enough tissue immediately, but it takes long time and has the risk of mismatches of color and texture. This report details our experiences with two patients who had soft tissue defect on their forehead that was covered with remnant forehead flap unit. This method uses one-unit-forehead island flap based on supratrochlear and supraorbital vessel. We obtained satisfactory results in terms of aesthetic and functional consideration.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.595-599
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Trochanteric pressure sores management has been improved through the development of musculocutaneous flaps. But it has many drawbacks such as donor site morbidity and functional muscle sacrifice. With the introduction of perforator flap, it is possible to use in every location where musculocutaneous perforators are present. We have reconstructed trochanteric pressure sores using perforator-based flaps from the ascending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery. Methods: Between May of 2006 and April of 2008, we performed six cases of perforator-based flap from the ascending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery for the coverage of trochanteric pressure sores. For identifying perforators, a line was drawn from the anterior superior iliac spine to the superolateral border of the patella as the vertical axis, from the pubis to the trochanteric prominence as the horizontal axis. In the lateral aspect of the intersection of these two axes, various flap were designed according to its defects. The flap was raised in the subcutaneous plane above the fascia and the pedicle was traced by doppler and identified. The pedicle was meticulously dissected not to injure the periadventitial tissues and transposed to the defect. The donor site was closed primarily. Results: The mean age of patients was 56.2 years. Four male and two female patients were studied. Five patients were paraplegic. The mean defect size was $6{\times}4\;cm$. The largest flap dimension was $14{\times}7\;cm$. Donor sites were closed primarily without any complications. All flaps survived completely without necrosis, hematoma or infection. There were no recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Trochanteric pressure sores using perforator-based flap from the ascending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery can be performed safely and it would be a reliable option for coverage of trochanteric pressure sores with minimal donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2000

One hundred & seventy four consecutive free-flap transfers were reviewed to analyze distribution of the type of reconstructions, kinds of donor flaps as well incidence of complications. The role of emergent exploration and the effect of preoperative wound conditions in flap survival were evaluated. Free flap transfer for head and neck reconstruction was most common as 93 cases, followed by for upper extremity of 30 cases, for lower extremity 30 cases, 18 penile reconstructions and for trunk & breast 3 cases. Nine flaps exhibited signs of ciruclatory insufficiency between 5 hours and 7 days. Three were managed conservatively with ultimate partial necrosis of the flaps. Eight flaps required return to the operating room. On exploration, early arterial occlusion was revealed in 1 flap, late arterial occlusion in 2 flaps, early venous occlusion in 1 flap, late venous thrombosis in 2 flaps, prolonged venous spasm in 1 and hematoma in 1 flap. The average time from the first abnormal examination to exploration was 2.6 hours. There were no false-positive explorations. Four free flaps failed in spite of the correction of the cause of circulatory compromise. The remaining 4 flaps were salvaged following the correction the casuse. Recipient vessel problems such as irradiation and infection were the most common cause of circulatory crisis. Among the eight flaps requiring return to the operating room, single vein was anastomosed in three flaps and two veins in the remaining five. In the totally failed four flaps only single vein was anastomosed in three cases. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of clinical monitoring and the role of early exploration. Precautious selection of recipient vessels and two vein anastomosis are recommended for safe and better prognosis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.324-332
• /
• 2020

Background The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is the commonest flap used for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. It is performed as a unilateral (based on one [unipedicled] or two [bipedicled] vascular pedicles) or bilateral procedure following unilateral or bilateral mastectomies. No previous studies have comprehensively analyzed analgesia requirements and hospital stay of these three forms of surgical reconstruction. Methods A 7-year retrospective cohort study (2008-2015) of a single-surgeon's DIEP-patients was conducted. Patient-reported pain scores, patient-controlled morphine requirements and recovery times were compared using non-parametric statistics and multivariable regression. Results The study included 135 participants: unilateral unipedicled (n=84), unilateral bipedicled (n=24) and bilateral unipedicled (n=27). Univariate comparison of the three DIEP types showed a significant difference in 12-hour postoperative morphine requirements (P=0.020); bipedicled unilateral patients used significantly less morphine than unipedicled (unilateral) patients at 12 (P=0.005), 24 (P=0.020), and 48 (P=0.046) hours. Multivariable regression comparing these two groups revealed that both reconstruction type and smoking status were significant predictors for 12-hour postoperative morphine usage (P=0.038 and P=0.049, respectively), but only smoking, remained significant at 24 (P=0.010) and 48 (P=0.010) hours. Bilateral reconstruction patients' mean hospital stay was 2 days longer than either unilateral reconstruction (P<0.001). Conclusions Although all three forms of DIEP flap breast reconstruction had similar postoperative pain measures, a novel finding of our study was that bipedicled DIEP flap harvest might be associated with lower early postoperative morphine requirements. Bilateral and bipedicled procedures in appropriate patients might therefore be undertaken without significantly increased pain/morbidity compared to unilateral unipedicled reconstructions.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The main cause of flap loss in microsurgical tissue transfer is venous insufficiency. Whether or not multiple venous anastomoses prevents vascular thrombosis and reduces the risk of flap failure remains controversial. Some researchers are in favor of performing dual venous anastomoses, but the counterargument holds that performing a single venous anastomosis does provide advantages. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 15 cases of anterolateral thigh free flap for extremity reconstruction performed between January 2011 and December 2013. The patients were categorized into two groups: group A that received a single venous anastomosis and group B that received dual venous anastomoses. The time of the anastomosis, size of the flap, complications of the flap, and survival rate of each group were analyzed. Results: The total microsurgical time in the single venous anastomosis group ranged from 28 to 43 minutes (mean 35.9 minutes). The total time in the dual anastomoses group ranged from 50 to 64 minutes (mean 55.7 minutes). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups with regards to postoperative complications and flap failure. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the use of a single venous anastomosis in the venous drainage of anterolateral thigh free flaps is a safe and feasible option for extremity reconstruction and provides shorter operative time and easy flap dissection.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.152-156
• /
• 2005

Purpose: We reconstructed the thumb with groin flap combined with secondary heterodigital neurovascular island flap and report our 6 cases. Materials and Methods: Between March 2003 and August 2004, 6 degloving thumbs or amputation of thumbs were reconstructed with groin flap combined with secondary heterodigital neurovascular island flap. There ware 4 men and 2 women, and mean age was 42.2 years. The following parameters were evaluated. Results: Recipient thumb was no limitation of apposition. but flexion contracture of interphalangeal joint was about 10 degree in two cases. Average grip power were 80% and average pinch power were 70% that of the normal thumb. The two point discrimination was average 10.5 mm and double sensibility in 2 cases. 2 patients have cold intolerance. Neuroma formation was not made. Cosmetic results as judged by patients were that 4 cases are good and 2 cases are fair. Conclusion: If massive skin defect after degloving thumb or amputation of thumb are present, we consider the numerous methods for reconstruction of thumb. This surgical procedure is good methods because of it's pliability, sensation, satisfactory functional results but major disadvantage are the staged operation and cosmetic effect of the absence of thumb nail.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.108-111
• /
• 2010

Purpose: In reconstructing a defect on the dorsum of the hand, there are many cases of extensor tendons exposed or even missing. The repaired or reconstructed tendons need relevant gliding environment for good functional recovery. The anterolateral thigh flap offers a vascular fascial component with large amounts that can be used for covering exposed tendons and we report a unique case of single-stage hand dorsum and gliding surface reconstruction. Methods: A 35-year-old man had severe post-traumatic scarring in his left dorsal hand and coverage of the flap with split-thickness skin graft has been done before. After scarred skin excision and extensor tendon graft for missed part, a free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap was used to resurface the hand dorsum and to reconstruct a two-layer gliding surface of the extensor tendons. The extensor tendons were wrapped in the fascial component with the fat layer inside. Results: He had an uneventful postoperative course without infection, dehiscence and flap necrosis. Good overall functional recovery and tendon excursion were observed. He was also satisfied with postoperative appearance. Conclusion: A free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap was used successfully for reconstruction of a two-layer tendon gliding surface to treat a patient with severe scarring in the dorsal hand.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.710-715
• /
• 2022

Background The latissimus musculocutaneous flap (LD flap) is a useful option for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. It has the advantage of obtaining sufficient tissue padding and natural shape by using autologous tissue. However, with the emergence of the skin-sparing mastectomy technique and artificial dermis matrix, direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction has become the first choice of surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the satisfaction levels of patients who underwent DTI and LD flap with implant using patient-reported Breast-Q results. Methods A retrospective study was performed reviewing the records of 49 women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with DTI or LD flap with implant and responded to the BREAST-Q questionnaire after the operation. The patient-reported breast-Q results were analyzed and correlated to the demographic information and intraoperative information. Results A total of 26 patients who underwent reconstruction with LD flap with implant and 23 patients with DTI were identified and responded to the questionnaire after an average of 32.3 and 10.4 months postoperation, respectively. According to the patient response to the breast-q values, satisfaction with breast was 60.0 and 57.0 points, psychosocial well-being 61.0 and 60.0 points, and sexual well-being 41.0 and 43.0 points in the two groups. Overall, there was no significant difference in the breastQ score between the two groups. Conclusion Patients who underwent DTI breast reconstruction seemed equally satisfied with the appearance and outcome of their breast reconstruction compared with LD flap with implant. Therefore, it appears that DTI is adequately replacing LD with implant.