• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2019

Background: Tongue reconstruction is challenging with the unique function and anatomy. Goals for reconstruction differ depending on the extent of reconstruction. Thin and pliable flaps are useful for tongue tip reconstruction, for appearance and mobility. This study reports lateral arm free flap (LAFF) as a safe and optimal option for hemi-tongue reconstruction, especially for tongue tip after hemiglossectomy. Methods: Thirteen LAFFs were performed for hemi-tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy from 1995 to 2018. Of the 13 patients, seven were male and six were female, age varying from 24 to 64 years. Results: All flaps healed uneventfully without complications. Donor sites were closed primarily. The recipient vessels for microvascular anastomosis were mainly superior thyroidal artery, external jugular vein. All patients returned to normal diet, with no complaints regarding reconstructed tongue and donor site. Conclusion: The LAFF is hairless, thin (especially with lateral epicondyle approach), and potentially sensate. They are advantageous features for tongue tip and hemi-tongue reconstruction. Donor site sacrifices the inessential posterior radial collateral artery, and the scar is hidden under short sleeve shirts. We believe that LAFF can be considered as the first choice flap for hemitongue reconstruction, over radial forearm free flaps.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.105-113
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• 2015

The main challenge in pharyngoesophageal reconstruction is the restoration of swallow and speech functions. The aim of this paper is to review the reconstructive options and associated complications for patients with head and neck cancer. A literature review was performed for pharynoesophagus reconstruction after ablative surgery of head and neck cancer for studies published between January 1980 to July 2015 and listed in the PubMed database. Search queries were made using a combination of 'esophagus' and 'free flap', 'microsurgical', or 'free tissue transfer'. The search query resulted in 123 studies, of which 33 studies were full text publications that met inclusion criteria. Further review into the reference of these 33 studies resulted in 15 additional studies to be included. The pharyngoesophagus reconstruction should be individualized for each patient and clinical context. Fasciocutaneous free flap and pedicled flap are effective for partial phayngoesophageal defect. Fasciocutaneous free flap and jejunal free flap are effective for circumferential defect. Pedicled flaps remain a safe option in the context of high surgical risk patients, presence of fistula. Among free flaps, anterolateral thigh free flap and jejunal free flap were associated with superior outcomes, when compared with radial forearm free flap. Speech function is reported to be better for the fasciocutaneous free flap than for the jejunal free flap.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.137-140
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• 2017

Alloplastic materials used for orbital fracture reconstruction can induce complications, such as infection, migration, extrusion, intraorbital hemorrhage, and residual diplopia. Silicone is one of the alloplastic materials that has been widely used for decades. The author reports a rare case of spontaneous extrusion of a silicone implant that was used for orbital fracture reconstruction 30 years earlier. A 50-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room for an exposed substance in the lower eyelid area of the left eye, which began as a palpable hard nodule a week earlier. The exposed material was considered to be implant used for previous surgery. Under general anesthesia, the implant and parts of the fibrous capsule tissue were removed. Several factors hinder the diagnosis of implant extrusions that occur a long period after the surgery. So, surgeons must be aware that complications with implants can still arise several decades following orbital fracture reconstruction, even without specific causes.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.214-217
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• 2017

The reconstruction of the mandibulofacial defects is a difficult task when there are full-thickness cheek defects involving mandible, inner mucosa and outer skin. There are several reconstructive options for the coverage of large defects, but most of the methods are complicated, and time- and effort-consuming. We hereby present a case of fibula osteocutaneous flap based on a single peroneal artery perforator in the reconstruction of a three-dimensional mandibulofacial defects.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.152-156
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• 2018

Mandibular defects lead to severe deformation and functional deficiency. Vascularized osteocutaneous tissue has been widely used to reconstruct the mandible. However, it is technically challenging to shape this type of grafts in such a manner that they resemble the configuration of the mandible. A 48-year-old female patient who underwent anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap coverage after a tongue cancer excision was diagnosed with a tumor recurrence during the follow-up. A wide excision mandibulectomy and mandibular reconstruction with an ALT flap and a titanium implant were performed. The prefabricated titanium implant was fixed to the condyle. Then, an ALT flap was harvested from the ipsilateral thigh and anastomosed. After confirming that the circulation of the flap was intact, the implant was fixed to the parasymphysis. On the radiograph taken after the surgery, the prosthesis was well positioned and overall facial shape was acceptable. There was no postoperative complication during the follow-up period, 1 year and 2 months. The prefabricated implant allows the restoration of facial symmetry without harvesting autologous bone and it is a safe and effective surgical option for mandibular reconstruction.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.337-340
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• 2021

Full-thickness nasal tip reconstruction is a challenging process that requires provision of ample skin and soft tissue, and intricate cartilage structure that maintains its architecture in the long term. In this report, we describe reconstruction of a full-thickness nasal tip and ala defect using a posterior auricular artery perforator based chondrocutaneous free flap. The flap consisted of two lay ers of skin covering conchal cartilage, and was based on a perforating branch of the posterior auricular artery. A superficial vein was secured at the posterior margin. The donor perforator was anastomosed to a perforating branch of the lateral nasal artery. The superficial vein was connected to a superficial vein of the surrounding soft tissue. The donor healed well after primary closure. The flap survived without complications, and the contour of the nasal rim was sustained at follow-up 6 months later. As opposed to combined composite reconstructions using a free cartilage graft together with a small free flap or pedicled nasolabial flap, the posterior auricular artery perforator free flap encompasses all required tissue types, and is similar in contour to the alar area. This flap is a useful option in single-stage reconstruction of nasal composite defects.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.260-265
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• 2023

Background: The traditional nasolabial V-Y advancement flap is widely used for midface reconstruction, particularly for the lower third of the nose and upper lip, as its color and texture are similar to these areas. However, it provides insufficient tissue to cover large defects and cannot restore the nasal convexity, nasal ala, and adjacent tissues. The purpose of this study is to investigate the modified nasolabial V-Y advancement flap with extension limbs the along alar crease for the reconstruction of complex midface defects. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 18 patients, who underwent reconstruction with the modified nasolabial V-Y advancement flap, was performed between September 2014 and December 2022. An extension limb was added along the alar crease, adjacent to the defect area, and was hinged down as a transposition flap at the end of the advancement flap. Results: The extension limb along the alar crease successfully covered large and complicated defects, including those of the ala, the alar rim, the alar base, the nostrils, and the upper lip, with minor complications. Conclusion: The alar crease is a good donor site for the reconstruction of large and complex nasal and upper lip defects.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.81-85
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• 2009

Purpose: The inferior orbital wall is the most vulnerable to injury and inadequate reconstruction of inferior orbital fracture result in postoperative complications include enophthalmos, ocular dystopia and diplopia. Although the anatomical reconstruction of the inferior orbital wall is necessary to prevent these complications, the complexity of inferior orbital wall makes it difficult. We fabricated and remodeled the titanium micro-mesh plate for the anatomical reconstruction of inferior orbital wall. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with inferior orbital wall blow-out fracture were operated and twelve of them presented large extensive fracture. We intraoperatively fabricated and remodeled the Titanium-micro mesh to angulated lazy S shape similar to contralateral uninjured orbit. The preoperative and postoperative facial CT scan verified the 3-dimensional and anatomical reconstruction of the fractures. The mean follow-up was 19.7 months and postoperative complications was evaluated. Results: All cases showed the exact anatomical reconstruction, but there were minor complications in two cases. one patient had postoperative diplopia until 3months after surgery and the other patient had persistent enophthalmos (2 mm), but no further surgical correction was required. Conclusion: The comprehensive understanding of orbital convexity is the most important factor for anatomical reconstruction of inferior orbital fracture. We could prevent postoperative complications after inferior orbital wall reconstruction by intraoperative fabrication and anatomical remodeling of Titanium micro-mesh.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2010

Purpose: Nasal defect can be caused by excision of tumor, trauma, inflammation from foreign body reaction. Nose is located in the middle of face and protruded, reconstruction should be done in harmony with size, shape, color, and textures. We report various methods of nasal reconstruction using local flaps. Methods: From March 1998 to July 2008, 36 patients were operated to reconstruct the nasal defects. Causes of the nasal defects were tumor (18 cases), trauma (11 cases), inflammation from foreign body reaction (5 cases) and congenital malformation (2 cases). The sites of the defects were ala (22 cases), nasal tip (8 cases) and dorsum (6 cases). The thickness of the defects was skin only (5 cases), dermis and cartilagenous layer (7 cases) and full-thickness (24 cases). According to the sites and thickness of the defects, various local flaps were used. Most of alar defects were covered by nasolabial flaps or bilobed flaps and the majority of dorsal and tip defects were covered by paramedian forehead flaps. Small defects below $0.25 cm^2$ were covered with composite graft or full-thickness skin graft. Results: The follow-up period was 14 months. Partial flap necrosis was observed in a case, and one case of infection was reported, it was improved by wound revision and antibiotics. Nasal reconstruction with various local flaps could provide satisfactory results in terms of color and texture match. Conclusion: The important factors of nasal reconstruction are the shape of reconstructed nose, color, and texture. Nasolabial flap is appropriate method for alar or columellar reconstruction and nasolabial island flap is suitable for tip defect. The defect located lateral wall could be reconstructed with bilobed flap for natural color and texture. Skin graft should be considered when the defect could not afford to be covered by adjacent local flap. And entire nasal defect or large defect could be reconstructed by paramedian forehead flap.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.27-34
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• 2020

Background: Free-flap reconstruction for recurrent head and neck cancer may be challenging depending on the previous treatments, those are, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, including neck dissection or free tissue transfer. Specifically, the previous treatment could compromise the neck vessels, thereby making free-flap reconstruction more difficult. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between previous treatments and vascular compromise of the free flap. Methods: In this retrospective study, 124 free-flap reconstructions in 116 patients for recurrent head and neck cancer between 1993 and 2017 were investigated. The demographic characteristics, previous treatments, flap choices, infections, recipient vessels, and vascular crises were evaluated. Results: Of the 124 reconstruction cases, 10 had vascular crises. There were six revisions, totaling six flap failures. The success rate of free-flap reconstruction for recurrent cancer was 95.2%, which significantly differed from that for primary cancer (98.8%, p= 0.006). Moreover, in the recurrent cancer group, no correlation was found between previous treatments and vascular crises (p> 0.05). Increased rates of contralateral or uncommon anastomoses were found following neck dissection (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Previous neck dissection or radiotherapy could lead to scarring and tissue damage, which could in turn make microvascular reconstruction more challenging; however, the effect was not definite in this study. Approximately 60% of patients with previous neck dissection had compromised ipsilateral recipient vessels, which resulted in contralateral or uncommon anastomoses. In this study, free-flap reconstruction seems to be quite safe and preferable in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer based on the overall survival rate.