• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.19-29
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• 2003

Soft tissue reconstruction of dorsum of the foot and ankle has long presented challenging problems for the reconstructive surgeon. Limitations of available local tissue, the need for specialized tissue, and donor site morbidity restrict the options. In an effort to solve these difficult problems, we have begun to use adipofascial flap based on the perforating branch of the peroneal artery. We present our early experience of 5 patients treated with this flap. Our patients ranged from 6 to 26 years in age and included 3 males and 2 females. The etiologies of the wounds were secondary to traffic accident, and crushing injury. The flaps had reverse flow in all patients. The flap and the adjoining raw area were covered with a full-thickness skin graft, while the donor site at the lateral aspect of the leg was closed primarily without grafting. The skin graft was taken from the inguinal area, which was closed primarily. Compared with other flap, this adipofascial flap is thinner, producing less bulkiness to the recipient site and minor aesthetic sequelae to the donor site. In our opinion, this flap is versatile, effective, and an addition to the armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon for coverage of difficult wounds of the foot and ankle.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.56-61
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• 2015

Purpose: We report on the clinical result after coverage of a soft tissue defect on the medial foot and ankle with an adipofascial flap based on the perforator from the posterior tibia artery. Materials and Methods: Nine patients with soft tissue defects on the medial foot and ankle area from March 2009 to May 2014 underwent the procedure. Average age was 54 years old (range, 8~82 years). There were five male patients and four female patients. The causes of the defect were trauma (4), tumor (3), and infection (2). The pivot point of transposition of this flap is the lower perforator originating from the posterior tibia artery. The fatty tissue side of this flap could be used to resurface the defect. The donor site was closed primarily with the preserved skin, and a small caliber drain tube was used. The split-thickness skin graft was grafted to the flap and the wound. If the wound was still infected, this skin graft could be performed at a later date. Results: All flaps survived and normal soft tissue coverage was obtained for the medial foot and ankle of all patients after the skin graft. Normal footwear was possible for all cases because of thin coverage. There was an extension contracture on the medial ray of the foot, which was resolved by contracture release and skin graft. Conclusion: For the medial foot and ankle soft tissue defect, the medial crural adipofascial flap based on a perforator branch of the posterior tibia artery could be a good option to cover it.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.759-764
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• 2007

Purpose: Various types of flaps, with their own advantages and disadvantages, have been described for reconstruction of soft tissue defect with exposure of tendons, bones, or joints in the hand or foot. Local flaps with random vascularity have a limitation by their length. Free flaps are time-consuming procedure that may require the sacrifice of some major vessels. The ideal flap for covering soft tissue defects of the hand or foot must provide subcutaneous tissue that tendons can glide through which, supply enough subcutaneous tissue for cover of vital neural, bony, vascular and joint structures, and it has to be aesthetically pleasing. The adipofascial flap fulfills these criteria. It allows immediate or early closure of difficult wound of hand and foot in an easy way, and is especially indicated for small to medium-sized defects. Methods: From October 2005 to December 2006, seven cases underwent this procedure to reconstruct soft tissue defect on hand or foot. Results: All flaps survived completely, and no complications were observed. Conclusion: The adipofascial flap is a convenient flap for coverage of soft tissue with exposure of vital structure in the hand or foot, and provide several advantages, as following; easy and safe, short operating time, one stage procedure, thinness and good pliability of the flap, preservation of the major vascular pedicles, skin preservation at the donor site, thus preserve the shape of the limb and minimize donor site scar.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.709-715
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• 2014

Background The distally based sural artery flap is a reliable, local reconstructive option for small soft tissue defects of the distal third of the leg. The purpose of this study is to describe an adipofascial flap based on a single sural nerve branch without sacrificing the entire sural nerve, thereby preserving sensibility of the lateral foot. Methods The posterior aspect of the lower limb was dissected in 15 cadaveric limbs. Four patients with soft tissue defects over the tendo-achilles and ankle underwent reconstruction using the adipofascial flap, which incorporated the distal peroneal perforator, short saphenous vein, and a single branch of the sural nerve. Results From the anatomical study, the distal peroneal perforator was situated at an average of 6.2 cm (2.5-12 cm) from the distal tip of the lateral malleolus. The medial and lateral sural nerve branches ran subfascially and pierced the muscle fascia 16 cm (14-19 cm) proximal to the lateral malleolus to enter the subcutaneous plane. They merged 1-2 cm distal to the subcutaneous entry point to form the common sural nerve at a mean distance of 14.5 cm (11.5-18 cm) proximal to the lateral malleolus. This merging point determined the pivot point of the flap. In the clinical cases, all patients reported near complete recovery of sensation over the lateral foot six months after surgery. All donor sites healed well with a full range of motion over the foot and ankle. Conclusions The distally based sural artery adipofascial flap allowed for minimal sensory loss, a good range of motion, an aesthetically acceptable outcome and can be performed by a single surgeon in under 2 hours.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.50-56
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• 2014

Background The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of lateral intercostal artery perforator-based adipofascial free flaps for facial reconstruction in patients with facial soft tissue deficiency. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of five consecutive patients diagnosed with facial soft tissue deficiency who underwent operations between July 2006 and November 2011. Flap design included the area containing the perforators. A linear incision was made along the rib, which had the main intercostal pedicle. First, we dissected below Scarpa's fascia as the dorsal limit of the flap. Then, the adipofascial flap was elevated from the medial to the lateral side, including the perforator that pierces the serratus anterior muscle after emerging from the lateral intercostal artery. After confirming the location of the perforator, pedicle dissection was performed dorsally. Results Dominant perforators were located on the sixth to eighth intercostal space, and more than four perforators were found in fresh-cadaver angiography. In the clinical case series, the seventh or eighth intercostal artery perforators were used for the free flaps. The mean diameter of the pedicle artery was 1.36 mm, and the mean pedicle length was 61.4 mm. There was one case of partial fat necrosis. No severe complications occurred. Conclusions This is the first study of facial contour reconstruction using lateral intercostal artery perforator-based adipofascial free flaps. The use of this type of flap was effective and can be considered a good alternative for restoring facial symmetry in patients with severe facial soft tissue deficiency.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.93-99
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• 2005

In spite of proper maneuver of total knee replacement arthroplasty, some patients suffer from skin necrosis just above the implant. From Mar. 2000 to Jan. 2004, the authors performed reconstruction of knee skin defects after total knee replacement athroplasty. Total 6 cases of flap surgery were performed and patients ranged between 43-years-old to 82-years-old. Rectus femoris perforator based reversed adipofascial flaps were used in 2 cases, medial gastrocnemius muscular island flaps were used in 2 cases and sural artery based on adipofascial rotation flap was used in 1 case. One patient with extended necrosis underwent reconstruction with dual flaps of sural artery based adipofascial rotation flap and medial gastrocnemius muscular island flap. There were no distinctive complication needing additional procedure in all cases during the long term follow up. Reconstruction of necrosis following total knee replacement arthroplasty had several characteristics different from simple knee defect. The patients might have the history of long term steroid usages, excessive skin tension due to implants, underlying disease such as diabetes, rheumatoid disease, and etc. In addition, the early ambulation is mandatory in these patients of total knee replacement arthroplasty. With regards to these special considerations, a single stage and reliable operation must be needed. The authors introduce various reconstruction methods and algorithm that may aid easy decision making.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.108-111
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• 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.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.343-348
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• 2012

Treatment of hemifacial atrophy is a challenge for oral & maxillofacial surgeons. The surgical approach basically focused on skeletal correction so that the overlying soft tissues can be improved by the osseous change of the skeleton. However, the treatment ends up with insufficient soft tissue mophology in most cases even after skeletal correction. Therefore comprehensive hard and soft tissue reconstruction is needed for treating the hemifacial atrophy. In this case report, we experienced a successful result after combined orthognathic and microvascular adipofascial flap reconstruction for hemifacial atrophy patient.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.27-30
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• 2015

A child sustained a car tire friction injury and had multiple soft tissue wounds. She had a severe soft tissue defect in the medial foot and ankle aspect which requiring flap coverage. We performed an adipoafscial flap with upside-down pattern for the treatment of the medial foot and ankle soft tissue posttraumatic defect. The flap is based on the perforator artery from the posterior tibial artery. Because it gave a thin coverage for the foot, the patient could walk with normal foot wear.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.785-786
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• 2022

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has been extensively discussed in the literature as it allows for a wide variety and depth of tissues for complex wound coverage. Thanks to many cadaveric and angiographic studies of the subdermal plexus, it is to date ascertained that tailoring ALT thickness can be safely performed without compromising flap outcomes or causing additional morbidity. Recently, the authors applied and described a simpler, safer, and less time-consuming superthin ALT perforator (ALTP) free flap harvesting technique. The aim of this article is to show the versatility of the adipofascial flap harvested around the chosen perforators, which allowed us to safely expand the usage of ALTP superthin flaps.