• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.403-407
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• 2005

Following a transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap breast reconstruction, denervated state of the flap causes the flap skin prone to thermal injury, calling for special attention. During the last 5 years, 69 breast reconstruction with 72 free TRAM flaps, were performed. Four out of thesse 69 patients sustained burn injury. Heat sources were a warm bag(n=2), heating pad(n=1) and warming light (n=1). The thermal injuries occured from 2 days to 3 months following the reconstruction. Three patients healed with conservative treatment, but one patient required debridement and skin graft. Initially 3 out of 4 patients with the burn had shown superficial 2nd degree burn with small blebs or bullae. However all 4 patients healed with scars. Mechanism of burn injuries of the denervated flap are known to be resulting from; 1) loss of behavioral protection due to denervation of flap with flap elevation and transfer, 2) loss of autonomic thermoregulatory control with heat dissipation on skin flap vasculature contributing to susceptibility of burn injury. 3) changes of immunologic and normal inflammatory response increasing thromboxane, and a fall in substance P & NGF (nerve growth factor). Including the abdominal flap donor site, sensory recovery of the reconstructed breast varies individually from 6 month even to 5 years postoperatively. During this period, wound healing is delayed, resulting in easier scarring compared to that observed in the sensate skin. Patients should be carefully informed and warned of possible burn injuries and taught to avoid exposure to heat source at least until 3 years postoperatively.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.146-152
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• 2020

Background Preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdominal wall vessels is used when planning free flap breast reconstruction (FFBR) because it provides a surgical road map which facilitates flap harvest. However, there are few reports on the effect of abnormal findings on the operative plan. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of all FFBRs performed at a tertiary referral center over a 6-year period (November 2011 to June 2017). One consultant radiologist reported on the findings. Details on patient demographics, CTA reports, and intraoperative details were collected. Results Two hundred patients received preoperative CTAs. Fourteen percent of patients (n=28) had abnormal findings. Of these findings, 18% were vascular anomalies; 36% tumorrelated and 46% were "miscellaneous." In four patients, findings subsequently prevented surgery; they comprised a mesenteric artery aneurysm, absent deep inferior epigastric (DIE) vessels, bilateral occluded DIE arteries, and significant bone metastases. Another patient had no suitable vessels for a free flap and the surgical plan converted to a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap. The remaining incidental findings had no impact on the surgical plan or appropriateness of FFBR. More than one in 10 of those with abnormal findings went on to have further imaging before their operation. Conclusions CTA in FFBR can have a wider impact than facilitating surgical planning and reducing operative times. Incidental findings can influence the surgical plan, and in some instances, avoid doomed-to-fail and unsafe surgery. It is therefore important that these scans are reported by an experienced radiologist.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.154-162
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• 1999

저자들은 1990년 12월부터 1999년 2월까지 48례의 경우에서 하인두에 발생한 악성종양을 광범위 절제한 후 유리피판 또는 근피판을 이용하여 재건하였다. 39례에서 유리공장 피판, 5례에서 유리전박 피판을 tubing 형태로 사용했으며, 2례에서는 유리전박 피판을 patch 형태로 사용하였고, 2례에서는 대흉근 근피판을 이용하여 경부식도를 재건하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 1. 하인두의 악성종양이 고령의 나이에 발생한다는 사실을 감안했을 때 유리전박 피판에 비해 급양공장루를 통해 조기에 영양섭취가 손쉬운 유리공장 피판이 환자의 상태를 정상으로 회복시키는데 장점이 있었다. 2. 술후 가장 흔한 합병증인 누공의 발생은 문합을 제대로 시행했을 경우 우려할 필요 없으며, 따라서 술후에 시행하는 식도조영검사는 누공의 증상이 있는 경우에만 선별적으로 실시해야 할 것이다. 3. 문합부 내경의 협착이 우려될 때는 직경이 큰 비강영양튜부(nasogastric tube)를 조기에 삽입하여 극단적인 협착을 감소시키고, 영양섭취 경로를 확보해야 한다. 4. 문합부 협착을 예방하기 위해 상하부 문합부 모두를 파형으로 도안하여 피판을 문합 봉합해야 하며, 협착이 의심스러울 때는 내시경검사를 시행하여 확진해야 한다. 5. 혈관문합은 유리전박 피판을 시행하는 경우에 있어서 수월하였으며, 유리공장 피판을 시행할 때는 술전에 정맥이식을 고려해야 한다.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.715-717
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• 2011

Purpose: In cases of breast reconstruction with a free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap after skin-sparing mastectomy with nipple-areolar complex (NAC) removal, the flat contour of the flap's skin paddle can easily look unnatural and dissatisfying. Reconstructed NAC on the flap surface lacks the elevated contour that the normal areola possesses, resulting in an unnatural final result. Therefore, we would like to introduce a novel method to improve this problem and report the satisfactory results we obtained. Methods: Operations were conducted on 19 patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with a free TRAM flap and skin-sparing mastectomy from January 2009 to January 2010, with a mean follow-up of nine months. While the TRAM free flap was being inset, a purse-string suture was carried out on the dermal layer of skin flap to create a slight protrusion with Gore-$Tex^{(R)}$ sutures. Results: The elevated mound surrounding the NAC was well maintained for an average follow-up period of nine months. Nipple projection was also well maintained. There was no complaint about breast contour or nipple height reduction. In addition, there was no reported incidence of other complications. Conclusion: The purse-string suture technique presents a more natural breast silhouette around the NAC and helps to maintain nipple projection. Furthermore, it does not require any supplementary incisions or complicated skills. There has been no report of additional complications using this technique.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.64-71
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• 1994

해부학적으로 족부는 주위에 이용할 수 있는 연주 조직이 별로 없을 뿐 아니라 이용할 수 있더라도 크기가 제한되어 있으므로 광범위한 연부조직 결손시 이의 복원이 어렵다. 광범위하고 오염된 족부의 창상을 재건시 이상적인 조직의 조건으로서는 감염에 잘 견디고, 가능한한 원래의 모양 및 크기에 가깝게 복원해야 하며, 적절한 감각이 있어야 하고, 끊임없는 마찰력과 체중 부하에 잘 견뎌야 할 것이다. 미세혈관술을 이용한 유리조직이식은 비교적 위와같은 장점들을 제공할 수 있다. 저자들은 최근 약 4년간 외상과 전기화상 및 화상후 후유증으로 인하여 족배부, 발꿈치, Achilles건, 족저부등에 광범위한 결손 및 변형이 있었던 환자 21예에서 미세혈관술을 이용하여 Fasciocutaneous, musulocutaneous, muscle with skin graft 등으로 족부를 재건하여 추적중에 있으며 현재까지 관찰된 결과 및 장점, 단점과 문제점들을 보고하는 바이다.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.79-84
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• 1990

본 논문은 구강암의 근치적 절제술후 결손부위 재건을 위한 근피부판(myocutaneous flaps)이 환자의 생존율에 미치는 의의를 알아보고자 저자들의 경험을 살펴본 것이다. 1974년부터 1988년까지, 만 15년간 98명의 환자들이 구강 및 구인두 부위에 발생한 암으로 절제술을 받았다. 이 중 14명은 하악골 절제술없이 근치적 복합적 절제술(composite resection)을 받았으며, 4명은 방사선 조사후 재발한 경우로서 경부곽청술없이 광범위 단순절제술(enbloc resection)만을 시행받았다. 이들을 제외한 근피부판을 사용또는, 사용하지 않은 COMMANDO를 시행받은 84명의 나머지 환자들을 대상으로 여러가지 술식에 따른 재발율 및 생존율을 비교 분석하여보았다. 1) 술기에 있어서 국소 또는 근피부판을 사용하지않은 표준 COMMANDO술식이 24 예, 전두피부판(forehead flap)을 사용하여 재건한 경우가 12 예, 후경부피부판(Nape flap)을 사용한 경우가 19 예, 큰피부판 또는 골근피부판(osteomyocutaneous flap)을 사용한 경우가 27 예였으며 두 종류의 피부판 복원을 시행한 경우가 2 예였다. 2) 비교정(uncorrected) 2년 무병생존율은 표준 COMMANDO가 14%, 전두피부판을 이용한 COMMANDO가 17%, 후경부피부판 사용 COMMANDO가 35% 이었으며 근피부판을 이용한 COMMANDO에서도 역시 35% 이었다. 3) 병기(stage)에 따른 2년 무병생존율은 제 1병기가 100%, 제 2병기가 45%, 제 3병기가 41% 이었으며, 제 4병기에서는 18% 이었다. 4) 근피부판을 사용한 경우와 조직학적으로 이에 상응하는 제 1대조군, 즉 표준 COMMANDO를 시행했거나 국소피부판(전두피부판 빛 후경부피부판)을 사용한 COMMANDO 경우 들과 비교하였을 때 ,2년 무병생존율은 큰 차이가 없이 대조군 양쪽 모두에서 공히 40% 이었다. 5) 근피부판을 사용한 경우를 제 2대조군, 즉 국소피부판(전두피부판 및 후경부피부판) 복원만을 시행한 경우들과 비교했을 때에도 역시 차이가 없이대조군 양쪽 모두에서 27%의 2년 무병생존율을 보였다. 6) 근피부판을 사용한 경우를 제 3대조군 즉 어떠한 종류의 피부판도 사용하지않고 단순한 표준 COMMANDO만을 시행한 경우들과 비교했을 때는 큰 차이를 보였다. 즉, 근피부판을 사용하여 복원했던 경우는 50%의 2년 무병생존율을 보인데 비해, 표준 COMMANDO만을 시행했던 경우는 25%의 생존율을 보였다. 7) 국소재발율은 표준 COMMANDO에서 25%, 후경부피부판 사용 경우에서 26%, 전두 피부판 사용경우에서 33% 이었으나 근피부판을 사용한 경우는 재발율이 가장 낮아 22% 이 었다. 이러한 결과들을 병기가 진행된 예(stage III & IV)에서 본다면, 표준 COMMANDO에서 67%가 제 3, 제 4병기이었고, 후경부피부판을 사용한 경우는 79%에서 제 3, 제 4병기이었다. 전두피부판을 사용한 예에서는 100% 모두가 제 3, 제 4병기이었고, 근피부판을 사용했던 경우는 96% 에서 제 3, 제 4병기이었던 점을 고려한다면 매우 중요한 의미가 있다고 하겠다.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2013

Purpose: Breast reconstruction with lower abdominal tissue can produce the best outcome with acceptable rates of long-term complication. However, for cases in which sufficient abdominal tissue is not available, an superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap can be considered as the next option for autologous breast reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Among a total of 63 women who underwent breast reconstruction with free autologous tissue transfer from July 2010 to April 2011, SGAP flap was performed for four patients. In two cases, patients did not have enough abdominal tissue for sizable breast reconstruction. In another case, the patient had a long abdominal scar due to donor hepatectomy of liver transplantation. In the last case, which was a revisional case after radiation necrosis of a previous pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap, a large amount of healthy skin and soft tissue was needed. SGAP flap was elevated in lateral decubitus position. The internal mammary vessels were used for recipient vessels in all cases. Results: Breast reconstruction was performed successfully in all four cases without flap loss. Donor site complication was not observed, except for one case of seroma. The shape of the reconstructed breast was satisfactory in all patients. Conclusion: SGAP flap is an excellent alternative option for the TRAM or deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap for breast reconstruction. In terms of narrower width, harder consistency of soft tissue, and shorter pedicle, it is clear that the SGAP flap is less competent than the TRAM flap. However, in cases where abdominal tissue is not available, SGAP flap is the only way of providing a large amount of healthy tissue.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.24-34
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• 1996

There are many kinds of free flaps for management of extensive soft tissue defect of extremities in orthopaedic field. Free vascularized scapular flap is one of the most useful and relatively easy to application. This flap has been utilize clinically from early eighties by many microsurgical pioneers. Authors performed 102 cases of this flap from 1984 to 1995. We have to consider about the surgical anatomy of the flap, technique of the donor harvesting procedures, vascular varieties and anatomical abnormalities and success rate and the weak points of the procedure. This flap nourished by cutaneous branches from circumflex scapular vessels emerges from the lateral aspect of the subscapular artery 2.5-5cm from its lateral origin passing through the triangular space(bounded by subscapularis, teres minor, teres major, long head of triceps). The terminal cutaneous branch runs posteriorly around the lateral border of the scapular and divided into two major branches, those transeverse horizontally and obliquely to the fascial plane of overlying skin of the scapular body. We can utilize these arteries for scapular and parascapular flap. The vascular pedicle ranged from 5 to 10 cm long depends on the dissection, usually two venae comitantes accompanied circumflex scapular artery and its major branches. The diameter of the circumflex scapular artery is more than 1mm in adult, rare vascular variation. Surgical techniques : The scapular flap can be dissected conveniently with prone or lateral decubitus position, prone position is more easier in my experience. There are two kinds of surgical approaches, most of the surgeon prefer elevation of the flap from its outer border towards its base which known easier and quicker, but I prefer elevation of the flap from its outer border because of the lowering the possibilities of damage to vasculature in the flap itself which runs just underneath the subcutaneous tissue of the flap and provide more quicker elevation of the flap with blunt finger dissection after secure pedicle dissection and confirmed the course from the base of the pedicle. There are minimal donor site morbidity with direct skin closure if the flap size is not so larger than 10cm width. This flap has versatility in the design of the flap shape and size, if we need more longer and larger one, we can use parascapular flap or both. Even more, the flap can be used with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap and serratus anterior flap which have common vascular pedicle from subscapular artery, some instance can combined with osteocutaneous flap if we include the lateral border of the scapular bone or parts of the ribs with serratus anterior. The most important shortcoming of the scapular free flap is non sensating, there are no reasonable sensory nerves to the flap to anastomose with recipient site nerve. Results : Among our 102 cases, overall success rate was 89%, most of the causes of the failure was recipient site vascular problems such as damaged recipient arterial conditions, and there were two cases of vascular anomalies in our series. Patients ages from 3 years old to 62 years old. Six cases of combined flap with latissimus dorsi, 4 cases of osteocutaneous flap for bone reconstruction, 62 parascapular flap was performed - we prefer parascapular flap to scapular. Statistical analysis of the size of the flap has less meaningful because of the flap has great versatility in size. In the length of the pedicle depends on the recipient site condition, we can adjust the pedicle length. The longest vascular pedicle was 14 cm in length from the axillary artery to the enter point cutaneous tissue. In conclusion, scapular free flap is one of the most useful modalities to manage the large intractable soft tissue defect. It has almost constant vascular pedicle with rare anatomical variation, easy to dissect great versatility in size and shape, low donor morbidity, thin and hairless skin.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.117-124
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• 2005

Purpose: To present our experience and design modification of an anterolateral thigh flap in soft tissue reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Between April of 2004 and May of 2005, 26 anterolateral thigh flaps were used in 26 patients. There were 22 males and 4 females between 23 and 60 years (mean, 40years). The mean follow-up period was 11($4{\sim}18$) months. All cases were a cutaneous flap. Twenty-two were musculocutaneous perforator flaps(85%) and 4 were septocutaneous perforator flaps(15%). Four flaps were used as a sensate flap. While the donor sites were closed directly in 14 cases(54%), 12 cases(46%) underwent skin grafting of the donor site. During the flap design, a triangular skin design was added to a vascular anastomosis site in 14(54%) patients and used as a roof of the tunnel. The healing period of the skin graft between those performed above the fascia and above the muscle were compared. Results: The average size of the flaps was $16{\times}9(11-20{\times}7-12)\;cm$. The overall flap success rate was 96%. Complications encountered were infection in 4 cases, and marginal skin necrosis in 1 case. The healing period was delayed with the infection in 3 of the 6 cases involving a skin graft over the fascia. All 14 cases with the triangular skin design survived, but there was 1 flap failure and 1 marginal necrosis in 12 cases without a triangular skin design. Conclusions: It may be better to undergo a skin graft above the muscle than above the fascia in covering a donor site defect, and to use a triangular skin design in order to prevent vascular insufficiency. An anterolateral thigh flap is a versatile flap for a soft tissue reconstruction because its thickness and volume can be adjusted to the extent of the defect with minimal donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.35-45
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• 1996

After transplantation of groin free flap was sucessed by the Daniel and Taylor in 1973, the reconstruction of plastic surgery was extensive and universal due to rapidly developement of anatomic study of the donor site and technique of microvascular surgery. The free tissue transfers is possible to be early activity and rehabilitation by one stage operation. It currently available allow transfer of specific tissue quality as bone, muscle, nerve to achieve a functional and cosmetic result as well as the most favorable secondary defect. But free flaps require critical, skillful technique and lengthy operating time. Also it has disadvantage of donor site morbity at the large tissue transfer. Authors were transferred with 107 cases in 103 patients from May 1987 to June 1996, and then we analysed free tissue transfer to acquire more increased sucess rate, satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. The sexual distribution was male prominent in 79 cases(76.7%), female in 24(23.3%) and age was variable distribution from 3 to 76 years old. The cause of defects was most prevalent in trauma of traffic and industrial accident in 51 cases(49%). The common recipient site were lower extremities in 47 cases(43.9%), upper extremities in 28 cases(26.5%), head and neck in 25 cases(23.4%), and trunk in 7 cases(6.5%). The type of transfer were free skin flaps in 46 cases(43%), free muscle or musculocutaneous flaps in 31 cases(29%), free vasculized or osteocutaneous flaps in 10 cases(9.3%), and specilized free flaps in 20 cases(18.7%). The anastomosis of artery was end to end anastomosis in 94 cases(87.9%), end to side anastomosis in 13 cases(12.1%) and all vein was end to end anastomosis. The number of anastomosed vessels were one artery one vein in 62 cases(57.9%), one artery two vein in 45 cases(42.1%) and vein graft was performed only one case. The postoperative mornitoring were used with temperature, color of flap, capillary refilling time, ultrasonogram, bone scan, doppler, and endoscopy. The reexploration was performed in 9 cases(8.4%), and then flap was loss in 3 cases(2.8%). Accordingly overall success rate was 97.2%. The postoperative complication was early vascular occlusion, hematoma, partial necrosis and late bulkiness, scarring, color dismatch etc. Therefore, free tissue transfer is the preferred method of treatment, even through conventional local and distant flaps are available.