• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2000

Free TRAM flap is now increasingly suggested to patients requiring breast reconstruction after the mastectomy. This study is to introduce the experiences of bilateral free TRAM flaps for reconstruction of bilateral breasts and to suggest the way of getting the more satisfactory results. A total of 6 breasts were reconstructed in 3 patients using bilateral free TRAM flaps immediately following the mastectomy. Average operative time for bilateral breast reconstruction was 8 hours comparing to 6.5 hours for unilateral breast reconstruction. Partial or total flap loss did not occur in 6 flaps. Abdomen was repaired directly with muscle and fascia sparing technique without necessity of mesh graft. There was no complication in donor site like abdominal hernia. Bilateral breast reconstruction can achieve exceptionally good aesthetic result with low complication if it is performed with skillful technique and experience. The reason for this is that fairly good symmetry usually is obtained in the initial surgery and in most cases only minimal additional surgery is required to achieve a satisfactory aesthetic result. The one disadvantage of bilateral reconstruction with autologous tissue is the length of the surgical procedure. Although the initial bilateral breast reconstruction can be a long, tedious procedure if free flaps are used, it must be a valuable treatment option for bilaterally mastectomized patients.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2006

Free flap having been used for reconstruction of skin and soft tissue defect in various areas in a body is spreading up its application for not only functional reconstruction but also aesthetic reconstruction. Authors met with good results minimizing the demerits of anastomosis using suture through microvascular anastomotic device, hereupon, we intend to report this. We worked with 27 cases that used microvascular anastomotic device for venous anastomoses among patients who were processed free flap in our hospital. Age ranged from 12 to 63 (average 43.2), and there were 12 females and 15 males. As a result of a follow-up by 3 months - 5years (average 11.3 months), there was no particular complication in the anastomosed vein except 1 cases among 27 cases that sutured their veins through microvascular anastomotic device. Use of microvascular anastomotic device at free flap shortened the time required for vascular anastomoses to reduce ischemic time of tissue, and minimized the damage of intima during anastomoses and made easy anastomoses possible even in case the difference of diameters of blood vessels being sutured is wide. As well, even for survival rate of flap, satisfactory results were obtained compared with using suture. Consequently, it is concluded that use of microvascular anastomotic device in free flap is a useful way that can substitute existing anastomosis using suture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.799-802
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• 2008

Infection occurs very rarely in the sternoclavicular joint compared to other joints in the body. It occurs mainly in IV drug abusers, diabetics, chronic renal failure patients, septic patients and those with central vein catheters. In the early phase, it can be treated simply by antibiotics or incision, and drainage. However, when proper treatment is not begun. early, bone destruction can occur, and only en-bloc resection of the involved bone can cure it. To reduce the risk of recurrence, we advanced a pectoralis major flap into the resected area based on the feeding artery. We report a case of a patient with sternoclavicular osteomyelitis who was successfully treated using en-bloc resection and a pectoral advancement flap.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 1997

Since R.Y. Song(1982) has reported anatomic studies about septocutaneous perforator flap, various experiences especially on thigh flaps pedicled on septocutaneous artery were reported. Baek(1983) reported an anatomic study through the cadavers dissections on medial, lateral thigh area and provided the first new cutaneous free flap of thigh for clinical use. Song, et a1.(1984) reported anterolateral thigh free flap, Koshima, et al.(1989) reported pedicle variations and its versatile clinical usages. According to their reports, accessory branches of lateral femoral circumflex artery are placed in comparatively constant location and proved to be the effective pedicle of this flap. The advantages of anterolateral thigh free flap are 1) comparatively thin 2) can obtain sufficiently large flap 3) can contain cutaneous nerve 4) can be easy to approach anatomically because pedicle is located in comparatively constant position 5) minimal donor site morbidity. We report the experience of 10 cases of anterolateral thigh free flap coverage for soft tissue defects: 4 cases of soft tissue defects on foot area, 2 cases of soft tissue defects on hand, 3 cases of partial tongue defects owing to tongue cancer ablation, and 1 case of soft tissue defect on nasal alar.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.493-505
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• 1993

The congenital cutis aplasia mainly occurs in head, sometimes involving the skull and dura mater. It's cause and the rate of falling ill are not known yet, it is the disease that rate of death is high by the infection, such as, the injured vascular hemorrhange of meningitis. Craniosynostosis is the disease the appears the skull as well as the facial deformity with growing, has from the developmental difficiency, visual distibance, motor disturbance, convulsion to the neurologic impairment of mental retardation, and accompanies the each characteristic deformity following the suture fused. Satisfactory results was achieved by local flap surgery and conservative treatment on the infant, diagnosed as the congenital cutis aplasia, case 1 Also successful treatment experiences of craniosynostosis(oxycephaly, brachycephaly, trigonocephaly, cloverleaf deformity) through the frontal bone advancement and the barrel stave asteotomy, were reviewed & pursues and investigates the intracranial volume of before and after of surgery, and then reports with the literature investigation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1995

Frequently, a single muscle flap is not enough to cover a large compound defects after extensive trauma or ablation of tumor. For a extensive defects, several kinds of flaps are available for various needs of reconstruction. The combined latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior flaps provide the largest possible soft tissue coverage. Two flaps composed of latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles are consistently nourished through the subscapular-thoracodorsal vessels and their many branches, and thus the two flaps can be isolated with one vascular pedicled free flap. We experienced 4 cases of reconstruction in closure of extensive compound defects using the combined latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles with one vascular pedicled free flap. The advantages of using these flaps are : 1) its versatlity and excellent malleability 2) easy to dissection 3) long-stalked pedicle 4) the use of a vascularized rib 5) negligible motor dysfunction from the muscle removal.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2006

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lateral middle phalangeal finger flap for pulp and palmar defect of the finger. Materials and methods: We performed the lateral middle phalangeal finger flap in thumb pulp defect 4 cases and the palmar defect of other finger 3 cases. Mean age was 38(25-53) years old and there were male 6 cases and female 1 case. Sensate flap was performed in 4 cases of thumb pulp defects. Mean follow-up period was 14(7-22) months. Results: All flaps were survived. Mean static two-pint discrimination of sensate flap 4 cases was 8(6-10) mm. The sensation of donor finger tip was normal in all cases. Limitation of range of motion of the donor fingers was absent. Patients complained of transient cold intolerance 1 month after surgery but didn't complain of that in all cases at last follow-up. Conclusions: The advantages of the lateral middle phalangeal finger flap are the preservation of the ipsilateral palmar digital nerve, good sensory reconstruction of the fingertip, well maintained donor finger mobility with minimal exposure of the extensor tendon, cosmetically good appearances of donor finger, and easy raising as a large flap. So we suggest that this flap is versatile for reconstructing of relatively large pulp defect of the thumb and the palmar defects involving the joint of finger.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2004

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of arterialized venous flap in finger flexion contracture correction. Materials and methods : From 2002 to 2004, we have performed 10 arteriaized venous flap for treatment of severe flexion contracture in digit. The duration of flexion contracture was from 1 year to 50 years. The cause of contracture were bum scar(7 cases), postoperative contracture(2 cases) and other(l case). We evaluated the survival of flap, flap size, recovery of flexion contracture and subjective satisfaction. Results : All arterialized venous flap survived. The marginal minimal skin necrosis developed in 2 cases. The flap size was average $5.2{\times}3.5cm$. The recovery of flexion contracture was 87% compared with non affected side. 9 patients(90%) satisfied the results of operation. Conclusion : Arterialized venous flap is one of the useful procedure in treatment of finger flexion contracture because it has many advantages such as thin and good quality, variable length of pedicle, preservation of major vascular pedicle, less operation time and in addition possibility of various modifications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2010

Purpose: Free flap reconstruction in the pediatric population is difficult. However, microsurgery has had remarkable success rates in children. The aim of study is to present our clinical experience using free flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defects in children and to describe long-term follow-up results. Methods: Between June 2002 and July 2010, 30 cases of pediatric reconstruction were performed with free flap. The authors analyzed several items, such as the kind of flap, associated complications, and growth problems. Results: Among the 30 cases, 21 cases were due to traffic accidents, 5 to cancer, and 4 to falls and other soft tissue defects. The lower leg and foot were the most common sites of the lesion. In the free flap operations we have done, 20 cases involved an anterolateral thigh perforator free flap, 6 a superficial circumflex iliac perforator free flap, and 4 an upper medial thigh perforator free flap. In early postoperative complications, partial necrosis was seen in 2 cases, infection in 1 case, and the hematoma in 1 case. A satisfactory success rate and functional results were achieved. Conclusion: Free flap reconstruction in children allows satisfactory function with no significant effect on growth. Free flaps are regarded as the primary choice for selective pediatric reconstructive cases.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.133-144
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• 2009

Pharyngeal flap surgery changes the space and shape of the oral cavity and vocal tract, and these changing conditions bring resonance change. The purpose of this study was to determine the most reliable and valuable parameters for evaluating hypernasality to distinguish two patients before and after pharyngeal flap surgery. Each patient was asked to clearly speak the vowels /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, /o/ for voice recording. There were nine parameters: Formant (F1, F2, F3), Bandwidth (BW1, BW2, BW3), LPC energy slope ($\Delta$ |A2-A1/F2-F1|), and Band Energy (0-500 Hz, 500-1000 Hz) by each vowel. From the results of discrimination analyses on acoustic parameters, the vowels /a/, /e/ appeared to be insignificant but vowels /i/, /u/, /o/ appeared to be efficient in the separation. A 95%, 100%, and 100% recognition score could be reached when vowels /i/, /u/, and /o/ were analyzed. The results showed that F2, BW3, and LPC slope are more important parameters than the others. Finally, there is a relation between perceptual evaluation score and LPC energy slope of acoustic parameters by least square slope.