• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2010

Purpose: The loss of web space is caused by congenital syndactyly or acquired burn injury, trauma or surgery. Numerous surgical procedures have been described for restoration of the web space. Local flaps are usually preferred because of the easiness to perform and tolerable postoperative outcome. Among the various local flaps, the authors introduce V-M plasty for correction of web space contracture and syndactyly. Method: From March 2007 to Jun 2008, 4 patients underwent V-M plasty for correction of web space contracture and syndactyly. V-M plasty consists of 3 distinct triangular flaps. One triangular flap is designed next to the web region on the dorsal site of the hand, whereas the remaining 2 triangular flaps are placed on the volar site. The dorsal triangular flap is then placed between the volar adjacent triangular flaps. At the end of the operation, the involved fingers or toes are positioned in abduction to avoid kinking of the triangular flaps. Result: All the patients gained web functions with good esthetic appearance without any recurrence or complications. Mean follow-up was 8 months. Conclusion: V-M plasty is a safe, easy and rapid procedure to design and apply by using local tissues without the needs for a skin graft or risk of linear scarring and recurrence. The authors advise this versatile technique both in primary and recurrent cases of web space contracture and syndactyly.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 1994

The successful treatment of the extensively traumatized foot warrants reconstruction utilizing tissue that will provide adequate coverage, is resistant to infection, thin enough to conform to the contours of the foot as well as durable to constant frictional movement and weight bearing. Currently, free flaps offer the best means in achieving these difficult and sometimes contradictory goals. We treated twenty-one patients suffering from extensive soft tissue loss of the foot due to trauma, electric burn or postburn sequelae with free flaps. A fasciocutaneous, musculocutaneous or muscle flap with skin grafting was used based on the location, volume of tissue required, and the functional anatomical requirement of the injured region. The follow-up duration averaged twenty-nine months. From our group of patients, we believe that the muscle free flap with skin grafting offers the most favorable outcome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2011

Purpose: Heterotopic calcification is the abnormal deposition of calcium salts in tissues other than bone and enamel, and it occurs in the form of dystrophic calcification or metastatic calcification. This deposition can occur under many conditions, but in some rare cases, it may develop in burns and nonhealed scars. It is difficult to treat the combination of heterotopic calcification and ulceration in scar tissues by using conservative therapy and to determine the margin of excision in such cases. Our study proposes the use of intraoperative C-arm-guided mapping of lesions with heterotopic calcification, and adequate excision of ulcers in chronic scars where heterotopic calcification is also observed. Methods: This study included 2 patients and was conducted from January 2010 to July 2010. The first patient was a 63-year-old woman who presented with atypical calcium deposits and chronic ulceration in the lower one-third region of the right leg. The second patient was a 38-year-old man who presented with a nonhealing ulcer that had developed on the right leg 3 months earlier he had a history of 40% scalding burns on the entire body. Surgery is the most reliable method for treating heterotopic calcification therefore, both patients were treated using intraoperative C-arm-guided marginal mapping of heterotopic calcification, followed by release of contracture, and eventually split-thickness skin grafting. Results: Plain radiographs of the leg showed spotty radiopaque areas in the hard part of the scar well superficial to the underlying bones. Histopathological analysis revealed multiple foci of calcified deposits, increased fibrosis, and inflammation in the scar tissue. Surgery-related complications were not observed. Conclusion: C-arm guided excision of calcified scars and the release of contracture can cure nonhealing ulcers and may therefore prevent recalcification.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2023

Hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease (SCD) are traditionally considered a relative contraindication to free tissue transfer, due to concerns that erythrocyte sickling will increase the risk of microvascular thrombosis and flap failure. This article describes a case report with the successful use of free tissue transfer in a patient with SCD and provides a systematic literature review on free tissue transfer in SCD. A retrospective chart review was performed of a patient with SCD who underwent free tissue transfer at the authors' institution. A systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed using the keywords "free tissue transfer," "free flap," or "microsurgery" and "sickle cell" on PubMed, Ovid/Medline, and Scopus. A 29-year-old male with delayed presentation of an electrical burn to the face and scalp underwent wound closure with a free anterolateral thigh flap. Key management principles included red blood cell transfusion to keep hemoglobin S under 30% and hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL, maintenance of hydration, normothermia, adequate analgesia, and postoperative anticoagulation. Systematic literature review identified 7 articles describing 13 cases of free tissue transfer in 10 patients with SCD, with combined complete free flap success in 10 of the 13 flaps. Free tissue transfer can be successfully performed in patients with SCD. However, evidence on the optimal management of this unique patient population in the perioperative period after free tissue transfer is limited to case reports in the literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.564-570
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• 2006

Toxic gases and soot deposition as a consequence of smoke inhalation can cause direct injury to the upper and lower airways and even to the lung parenchyma. A delay in proper and prompt therapy can be detrimental to critically ill burn patients with an inhalation injury. Therefore, serial chest radiography is an important diagnostic tool for pulmonary complications during treatment. The radiographic findings of the chest include normal, consolidation, interstitial and alveolar infiltrates, peribronchial thickening, atelectasis, cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and a pneumothorax as acute complications of smoke inhalation. In addition, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis obliterans and pulmonary fibrosis can occur as late complications. We encountered a case of 44-year-old male who presented with acute lung injury after an inhalation injury. He required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure. He was managed successfully with conservative treatment. Later, a cavitary lesion of the left upper lobe was observed on the chest radiography and computed tomography, which was complicated by massive hemoptysis during the follow-up. However, the cavitary lesion disappeared spontaneously without any clinical consequences.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.649-654
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• 2012

Background Deep burns of the elbow lead to soft tissue necrosis and infection, with exposure of deep structures. Adequate wound coverage of this area requires thin, pliable, and durable tissue, while optimal functional recovery requires early coverage and functional rehabilitation. We have found 3 types of island flaps that provide reliable coverage for the elbow. Methods A retrospective study was performed on all patients who underwent flap coverage of an elbow defect at our hospital. The patients' data including age, sex, cause of injury, wound dimensions, timing of flap coverage, postoperative elbow motion, and complications were investigated. Results Between 2001 and 2012, 16 patients were treated at our hospital. The mean age was 53.3 years. Three kinds of flaps were performed: 9 latissimus dorsi flaps, 4 lateral arm flaps, and 4 radial forearm flaps. The average defect size was 183.5 $cm^2$ (range, 28 to 670 cm2). Wound coverage was performed at mean duration of 45.9 days (range, 14 to 91 days). The mean postoperative active elbow flexion was $98^{\circ}$ (range, $85^{\circ}$ to $115^{\circ}$). Partial flap failure occurred in 1 latissimus dorsi flap. Minor complications included partial flap loss (11.8%), hematoma (23.5%), seroma (35.3%), and wound infection (5.9%). Conclusions Flap selection for elbow reconstruction is determined by the defect size and the extent of the adjacent tissue injury. Elbow reconstruction using an island flap is a single-staged, reliable, and relatively simple procedure that permits initiation of early rehabilitation, thereby improving a patient's functional outcome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.483-488
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• 2012

Background Pediatric hand burns are a difficult problem because they lead to serious hand deformities with functional impairment due to rapid growth during childhood. Therefore, adequate management is required beginning in the acute stage. Our study aims to establish surgical guidelines for a primary full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) in pediatric hand burns, based on long-term observation periods and existing studies. Methods From January 2000 to May 2011, 210 patients underwent primary FTSG. We retrospectively studied the clinical course and treatment outcomes based on the patients' medical records. The patients' demographics, age, sex, injury site of the fingers, presence of web space involvement, the incidence of postoperative late deformities, and the duration of revision were critically analyzed. Results The mean age of the patients was 24.4 months (range, 8 to 94 months), consisting of 141 males and 69 females. The overall observation period was 6.9 years (range, 1 to 11 years) on average. At the time of the burn, 56 cases were to a single finger, 73 to two fingers, 45 to three fingers, and 22 to more than three. Among these cases, 70 were burns that included a web space (33.3%). During the observation, 25 cases underwent corrective operations with an average period of 40.6 months. Conclusions In the volar area, primary full-thickness skin grafting can be a good indication for an isolated injured finger, excluding the web spaces, and injuries of less than three fingers including the web spaces. Also, in the dorsal area, full-thickness skin grafting can be a good indication. However, if the donor site is insufficient and the wound is large, split-thickness skin grafting can be considered.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.75-79
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• 2017

Purpose: Although trauma is the most common cause of death under age 18, Korean national pediatric trauma data has lack of clinical data. This study is to prepare manpower resources, equipment, and make a correct policy decision on pediatric trauma victims Methods: The study enrolled 528 patients under age 16 with traumatic injury visited Wonju Severance Christian Hostpital Trauma Center, from February 12, 2015 to December 31, 2016. We analyzed the distribution of gender, age, place and time of the accident, injury mechanism, injury severity, and injured organ by medical record. Results: The major injury mechanisms were blunt injury in 485 (91.90%), penetrating injury in 27 (5.10%), burn in 13 (2.50%), near drowning in 2 (0.40%), and foreign body ingestion in 1 (0.20%). Ninety-seven (18.4%) patients were injured at home and 67 (12.7%) patients were injured at school. The overall mortality rate was 1.13% (n=6). 5 mortalities were related to automobile accident and one was fall down. Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 4 (2, 8). No statistical significance was observed in the mean ISS between each age group. The peak time of accident occurrence was between 16 and 17 o'clock. The mean ISS was higher in blunt injury group than penetrating injury with statistical significance ($6.50{\pm}7.60$ vs. $3.00{\pm}8.10$; p<0.05). The most common injury site was upper extremity. Mean ISS was highest in thorax injury. However, mean ISS of thorax injury was higher with statistical significance only compared with face, neck and upper extremity injury. Conclusions: We reported our pediatric trauma patients data of our hospital level I trauma center, which is the only one level I trauma center of Gangwon Province. These data is useful to prevent and prepare for pediatric trauma.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.51-72
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Severance Hospice Home Care Pro gram was able to meet its objectives. This was done in order to show in detail the effects of hospice home care on the quality of life of terminally ill patients and to provide rationale for setting up more hospice home care programs in korea. The results of the study were as follows: The subjects of the study were 100 terminally ill patients who hnd died 'while in the hospice program and 64 family members who were registered with Severance Hospice Home Care Program between march 1988 and Feb. 1990. The nursing needs of these terminally ill patients were assessed by the nursing records of these patients. The need for pain control(82%) was the highest nursing need so far as the physical aspects were concerned. This was followed by poor appetite(37%), 8 dyspnea(34%), nausea and vomiting(30%) in that order of frequency. In reqard to spiritual needs, the need for religious' support was also high at 72%. Their main psychological symptoms were anxiety and fear(34% ). Burn-out was a major problem for 44% of the family members. The psychological process experiencel by the terminal ill patients was compared to the dying process, described by Kiibler Ross. In comparison of the five stages outlined by kubler Ross with the dying process of the subjects it was found that the subjects not only experienced the five stages but also experienced denial and doubt-fulness or denial with acceptance or acceptance with the expectation of a miracle. But rather than acceptance of the dying process, giving up was a frequent end point of the psychological process, of the subjects. However, when the combination of states was observed, most of the patients reached the state of acceptance in the dying process. It was difficult to identify a definite pattern of change in the psychological process of the subjects. Also it was difficult to identify the factors that influenced the psychological process. The symptoms of the terminally j]] subjects just before dying, that is, 3-4 days before dying included apparent signs of dying. These were a reduction of intake(77%), reduction of the amount of urination(63%), increase in sleeping time (64%) and acceptance of dying by patients and their families who had been unaccepting be before that time(66%). The primary care givers(family member's) degree of satisfaction with the care given to the patient by the hospice was 88.7%. The results of this study show that Severance Hospice Home Care Program had a positie effeet on the quality of life of the terminally ill patients and their family members as they faced the death of the patient. It can be seen from this study that there is an urgent need to extend hospice programs - in order to provide quality of care for terminally ill patient and their families. Based upon the reesults of this study several suggestions are presente as follows: 1) A follow up study should be carried out to identify the dying process as it is unique to Korea. 2) A comparison should be made of other hospice care programs. 3) A comparison study should- be made with subjects who do not receive any hospice care as compared to those who do by use of an experimental and control group methodology. 4) There is a need to determine a scientific method to adequeto measure the interventions carried out to meet the hospice patients nursing care needs. 5) A study should be made using quality research methodology to evaluate effects of hospiec care from the patients, their family members and the nurrse's perspective.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.6
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• pp.486-492
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• 2012

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze clinical situations requiring rigid bronchoscopy and evaluate usefulness of rigid bronchoscopic intervention in benign or malignant airway disorders. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients who underwent rigid bronchoscopy from November 2007 to February 2011 at St. Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine. Results: Of the 29 patients, the most frequent underlying etiology was benign stenosis of trachea (n=20). Of those 20 patients, 16 had post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS), 2 had tracheal stenosis due to inhalation burn (IBTS) and other 2 had obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP). Other etiologies were airway malignancy (n=6), endobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis (n=2), and foreign body (n=1). For treatment, silicone stent insertion was done in 16 cases of PITS and IBTS and mechanical removal was performed in 2 cases of OFTP. In 6 cases of malignant airway obstruction mechanical debulking was performed and silicone stents were inserted additionally in 2 cases. Balloon dilatation and electrocautery were used in 2 cases of endobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis. In all cases of stent, airway obstructive symptom improved immediately. Granulation tissue formation was the most common complication. Conclusion: Tracheal stenosis was most common indication and silicone stenting was most common procedure of rigid bronchoscopy in our center. Rigid bronchoscopic procedures, at least tracheal silicone stenting, should be included in pulmonary medicine fellowship programs because it is a very effective and indispensable method to relieve critical airway obstruction which needs training to learn.