• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the surgical outcome of reconstruction of neglected chronic Achilles tendon ruptures with various methods including Achilles tendon allograft. Materials and Methods: Between October 2003 and November 2008, 8 consecutive neglected chronic Achilles tendon ruptures with the defect gap of more than 4 cm underwent surgical reconstruction including V-Y advancement, gastrocnemius fascial turn-down flap, flexor hallucis longus transfer and Achilles tendon allograft. There were 7 males and 1 female who were evaluated at more than 18 months after surgery. At the time of followup, all patients were assessed with regard to postoperative complications, their self-reported level of satisfaction, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale, 10 repetitive single heel rise, single leg hopping test, and ankle range of motion. Results: The AOFAS score increased from average 71.4 (50-87) to 96.4 (86-100). All patients were able to perform 10-repetitive single heel raise and single leg hopping at the latest follow up. No patient experienced wound complications and deep infection. Six patients were rated as 'excellent' and the other two as 'good'. Conclusion: Neglected chronic Achilles tendon ruptures could be successfully treated with careful selection of the reconstruction method according to the amount of defect gap. With an extensive defect, Achilles tendon allograft can be a good option when the reconstruction is not feasible otherwise.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 2007

Purpose: Reconstruction of the soft tissue defect exposing Achilles tendon is a formidable challenge because of the paucity of soft tissue and relatively poor blood supply. This article describes the reconstruction of soft tissue defect exposing Achilles tendon using gracilis muscle free flap and split-thickness skin graft. Methods: From 2000 to 2005, four patients with soft tissue defect exposing Achilles tendon and infection were operated using gracilis muscle free flap and split-thickness skin graft. The defect size ranged from 3.5 to 5cm wide and 6.5 to 8cm long. The mean postoperative follow-up was twenty months. Results: All the flaps were survived without necrosis and infection. We obtained the satisfactory results with good functional and aesthetical outcomes. All cases showed good results with the characteristics of a relatively thin flap without additional debulking procedure. Conclusion: Gracilis muscle free flap with split thickness skin graft could be a good option for reconstruction of soft tissue defect of posterior ankle, exposing Achilles tendon with minimal morbidity of the donor site.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.316-320
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• 2013

It has been reported that the gap between the tendon stumps in chronic Achilles tendon rupture is filled with interposed scar tissue. If it was available to use the interposed scar tissue for reconstruction or augmentation of Achilles rupture, possible damage of normal tissues could be avoided. Our results show that direct repair method using interposed scar tissue for chronic Achilles tendon rupture can successfully relieve pain and restore function of the ruptured Achilles tendon in carefully selected patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.539-542
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• 2005

Reconstructions of soft tissue defect of the posterior ankle including Achilles the tendon should take into account not only coverage but functional outcome. Various methods of tendon transfer and tendon graft have been reported as a single-stage procedure. With advances and refinements in microsurgical techniques, several free composite flaps including tendon, fascia, or nerve have been used in single-stage reconstructions of large defects in this area minimizing further damage to the traumatized leg. However, when free flap is not feasible for some reasons, this cannot be accomplished successfully. Here we present a patient with Achilles tendon and circumferential large soft tissue defect. Because of circulatory compromise of the lower extremity, free flap reconstruction could not be applied. Instead, cross-leg composite flap of the dorsalis pedis flap including the extensor hallucis brevis musle and tendon, and tendon strips of the Second, third and fourth extensor digitorum logus were employed, Functional reconstruction of the tendon and resurfacing were obtained at the same time. The flap was detached 3 weeks postoperatively, and the transplanted flap has survived without any complications. By 3 months after surgery, full weight bearing, tip-toe standing and even walking without crutch assistance was possible. When functional reconstruction with the free flap is unattainable in the large defect of the posterior ankle including the Achilles tendon, cross-leg composite island flap of dorsalis pedis flap and tendon strips of the extensor digitorum longus tendon is a viable alternative.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.127-130
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• 2018

A 3rd degree burn on the heel including the Achilles tendon is vulnerable and requires active treatment to improve the functional outcomes. Previously, there have been a few treatments on severe burns, such as amputation, debridement or simple skin graft. The cooperative technique of an anterior lateral thigh flap with Achilles tendon reconstruction can be an innovative procedure that preserves the major arteries. The authors review a case and report the clinical outcome.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2000

The soft tissue defects including the Achilles tendon are complex and very difficult to reconstruct. Recently, several free composite flaps including the tendon have been used to reconstruct large defects in this area in an one-stage effort. Our case presents a patient reconstructed with free composite dorsalis pedis flap along with the extensor digitorum longus and superficial peroneal nerve for extensive defects of the Achilles tendon and surrounding soft tissue. A 36-year-old-man sustained an open injury to the Achilles tendon. He was referred to our department with gross infection of the wound and complete rupture of the tendon associated with loss of skin following reduction of distal tibial bone fracture. After extensive debridement, $6{\times}8cm$ of skin loss and 8cm of tendon defect was noted. Corresponding to the size of the defect, the composite dorsalis pedis flap was raised as a neurosensory unit including the extensor digitorum longus to provide tendon repair and sensate skin for an one-stage reconstruction. One tendon slip was sutured to the soleus musculotendinous portion, the other two were sutured to the gastrocnemius musculotendinous portion with 2-0 Prolene. The superficial peroneal nerve was then coaptated to the medial sural cutaneous nerve. The anterior tibial artery and vein were anastomosed to the posterior tibial artery and accompanying vein in an end to end fashion. After 12 months of follow-up, 5 degrees of dorsiflexion due to the checkrein deformity and 58 degrees of plantar flexion was achieved. The patient was able to walk without crutches. Twopoint discrimination and moving two-point discrimination were more than 1mm at the transferred flap site. The donor site healed uneventfully. Of the various free composite flaps for the Achilles tendon reconstruction when skin coverage is also needed, we recommand the composite dorsalis pedis flap. The advantages such as to control infection, adequate restoration of ankle contour for normal foot wear, transfer of the long tendinous portion, and protective sensation makes this flap our first choice for reconstruction of soft tissue defect including the Achilles tendon.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.1461-1466
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• 2008

In the case of Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), the most frequent mechanism is the dashboard injury, which is directly pressurized to the anterior of the proximal tibia in the state of the knee hyperflexion. The PCL associated ligament damage happens when the posterior injury, the varus, the valgus, the hyperextension and the severe vagus torque are out of the critical value of PCL. After the successful operation cases of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction using the allograft were informed from 1986, a number of results kept over the maximum 10 years were reported. Unfortunately, PCL reconstruction are crowded the surgery techniques such as the graft, the tibia fixing method, the fixation device, the location of the femoral tunnel, the number of the graft bundles and PCL reconstruction to access to the stability of the normal joint is being developed. Therefore, this study is the basic research of these above facts. The current transtibial tunnel surgery using the cadaveric Achilles tendon grafts is chosen for the various PCL reconstruction. The initial extension of the Achilles tendon by the fixing device and its location under the cyclic loading, were observed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2019

A 70-year-old man complained imbalance while walking, inability to perform ankle flexion, and could not stand on tip-toe 3 months after injury. The ankle looked swollen with loss of Achilles contour and obvious gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging shows a 5-cm Achilles tendon gap. Subsequently, surgery was performed to solve the neglected Achilles tendon rupture. Patient was put under general anesthesia with a regional block. Using a nontourniquet technique, a reconstructive procedure was performed using a half-width autologous Achilles tendon graft, which was attached to the calcaneal prominence with wire in a double strand Bunnell fashion. As for the proximal stump, double core Bunnell/modified Kessler suturing was carried out to suture the graft to Achilles stump. To increase the vascularization, an ipsilateral gastrocnemius fascial flap with a distally based-pedicle was harvested to wrap around the tendon graft. At a 6-month follow-up, the patient was able to stand on tip-toe and had also regained a normal gait.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2002

The anterolateral thigh free flap was first reported by Song et al. in 1984 as a fasciocutaneous flap based on septocutaneous or musculocutaneous perforators of the lateral femoral circumflex vessel. It only becomes popular recently through confirmation of additional anatomy. For reconstruction of Achilles area defect, a thin flap is required to improve aesthetic and functional results. The anterolateral thigh free flap is relatively thin and can provide large skin area. It can be a useful option for reconstruction of Achilles area defect based on these characters. Since March 2002, we have successfully transferred 4 anterolateral thigh free flaps to reconstruct Achilles area defects and have attained good range of motion in this region. The anterolateral thigh free flap has many advantages and can be used for the reconstruction of Achilles tendon area defect.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.436-443
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• 2020

The main treatment of infections following the repair of a ruptured Achilles tendon is debridement of the infected tissue and reconstruction of the Achilles tendon after controlling the infection. On the other hand, some studies recently reported excellent clinical results after the debridement of the infected Achilles tendon without a reconstruction of the tendon. This paper reports four cases of a competent result after the debridement of an infected Achilles tendon without reconstructing the tendon with a review of the relevant literature.