• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 2005

Purpose: Disaster as traffic accident, industrial disaster, high voltage electrical bum and flame burn of extremity have a destructive effect because of the involvement of deep structure. Generally, such injury may result in decreased function or loss of limb. In this study the successful use of the combined scapular/parascapular flap as microsurgical transfer to cover extensive defect of electrical and flame bum is reported. Material and Method: Between January 2000 and June 2001, the combined scapular and parascapular flap was used for the coverage of soft tissue defect for 7 patients were admitted to our department with high voltage electrical bum and flame burn. The recipient site were the wrist joint in 2 cases, the forearm in 1 case, the ankle joint in 1 case, the foot dorsum in 1 case, the heel in 1 case. Result: Flap survival was complete in all patients. The result of flap coverage for these deep wound was successful. Conclusion: The advantages of scapular/parascapular combined flap were coverage of the large defect, easy shaping of the flap to fit the required three dimensional configuration around the joint, non hair bearing skin of uniform thickness, minimal donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.145-149
• /
• 2024

The superficial temporal artery (STA) bifurcates into frontal and parietal branches. The parietal branch is used as a recipient vessel for scalp reconstruction, but it is absent in approximately 16.3% of individuals. In this case, a 72-year-old woman with an occipital scalp defect lacked both the parietal branch of the STA and the superficial temporal vein. To address this anatomic variation, we used the frontal branch of the STA and the posterior auricular vein as alternative recipient vessels for anterolateral thigh free flap reconstruction. The surgical procedure involved end-to-end microvascular anastomosis of one artery and one vein. Partial flap necrosis occurred postoperatively, but eventually resolved with debridement. The frontal branch of the STA and the posterior auricular vein can serve as reliable alternatives in the absence of the parietal branch. Reconstructive surgeons should be aware of anatomic variations of the STA and adapt their surgical approach accordingly.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2010

Purpose: First introduced by Buncke and Rose in 1979, the neurovascular partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp free tissue transfer has been attempted to reconstruct posttraumatic finger tip injuries. Although some surgeons prefer other reconstructive methods such as skin graft and local flap, we chose the partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp flap owing to its many advantages. We report three successful surgical cases in which the patients had undergone this particular method of reconstruction. Methods: We retrospectively examined three cases of fingertip injury patients due to mechanical injury. Bone exposure was seen in all three cases, All had undergone partial toe pulp free flap for soft tissue defect coverage. Results: All flaps survived without any complications such as partial necrosis, hematoma or dehiscence. Although tingling sensation has returned in both cases, two-point discrimination has not returned yet. Currently no patient is complaining of any pain which gradually improved during their course of recuperation. All stitches were removed on postoperative 2 weeks. Patients are satisfied with the final surgical result and there are no signs of any edema or hematoma. Conclusion: The homodigital reconstruction of finger tip injury using the partial $2^{nd}$ toe pulp flap has numerous advantages compared to other reconstructive modalities such as its resistance to wear and tear and in that it provides a non-slip palmar digital surface. However it requires microsurgery which may not be preferred by surgeons. Advanced age of the patient can be a relative contraindication to this approach since atheromatous plaque from the donor toe can compromise flap circulation after surgery. We report three successful cases which patient age was considered appropriate. Further investigation with a larger number of cases and long term follow-up is deemed necessary.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2005

Skull base tumors have been determined inoperable because it is difficult to accurately diagnose the extent of the involvement and to approach and excise the tumor safely. However, recently, the advent of sophisticated diagnostic tools such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as the craniofacial and neurosurgical advanced techniques enabled an accurate determination of operative plans and safe approach for tumor excision. Resection of these tumors may sometimes result in massive and complex extirpation defects that are not amenable to local tissue closure. The purpose of this study is to analyze experiences of skull base reconstruction and to evaluate long term survival rate and complications. All cranial base reconstructions performed from July 1993 to September 2000 at Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Seoul National University Hospital were observed. The medical records were reviewed and analysed to assess the location of defects, reconstruction method, existence of the dural repair, history of preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, complications and causes of death of the expired patients. There were 12 cases in region II, 8 cases in region I and 1 case in region III according to the Irish classification of skull base. Cranioplasty was performed in 4 patients with a bone graft and microvascular free tissue transfer was selected in 17 patients to reconstruct the cranial base and/or mid-facial defects. Among them, 11 cases were reconstructed with a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap, 2 with a latissimus dorsi muscluocutaneous free flap, 1 with a fibular osteocutaneous free flap, 2 with a scapular osteocutaneous free flap, and 1 with a forearm fasciocutaneous free flap, respectively. During over 3 years follow-up, 5 patients were expired and 8 lesions were relapsed. Infection(3 cases) and partial flap loss(2 cases) were the main complications and multiorgan failure(3 cases) by cancer metastasis and sepsis(2 cases) were causes of death. Statistically 4-years survival rate was 68%. A large complex defects were successfully reconstructed by one-stage operation and, the functional results were also satisfactory with acceptable survival rates.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.593-598
• /
• 2007

Purpose: Talipes equinus deformity is defined as impossibility of heel weight-bearing and lacking of improvement of toe-tip gait despite sufficient duration of conservative treatment. The incidence of equinus deformity induces post-traumatic extensive soft tissue defect and subsequently increases it. Severe equinus deformities of the foot associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle were corrected using achilles Z-lengthening and free-tissue transfer. Methods: Free radial forearm flap was done in nine cases of eight patients from January 2000 to November 2006. Causes of deformity were post-traumatic contracture (one patient) and post-burn scar contracture (seven patients). Seven patients were male, one patient was female. Mean age was 32.1 (range, 10-57). Flap donors were covered with artificial dermis ($Terudermis^{(R)}$) and split thickness skin graft (five cases), and medium thickness skin graft only (four cases). Results: The size of flaps varied from $6{\times}12$ to $15{\times}12cm$ (average, $12{\times}7.8cm$). Achilles tendon was lengthened 4.2cm on average. Free radial forearm flap was satisfactory in all cases. All patients could ambulate normally after the surgery. Cases having donor coverage with $Terudermis^{(R)}$ were aesthetically better than those having skin grafts only. Conclusion: This study suggested that severe equinus deformities associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle can be corrected effectively free radial forearm flap and Achilles tendon lengthening.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.346-351
• /
• 2007

Purpose: As a rare congenital anomaly, Poland's syndrome has been known to show hypoplasia in breast and nipple, absence of pectoralis major muscle, and aplasia or deformity of rib or costal cartilage which has been reported to be more common in male. However, most patients who are seeking operation are female patients having one-side deformity. In the field of plastic surgery, the major surgical indications could be asymmetric chest wall depression in man or breast hypoplasia in woman. There are many reconstruction options according to the degree of patient's deformity: a prosthetic implant, breast implant with or without tissue expander, latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous pedicled flap with or without implant and/or tissue expander, and free tissue transfer with or without tissue expander. Methods: The authors have treated 4 patients(2 male, 2 female) who had a diagnosis of Poland's syndrome. According to the degree of patient's deformity, all patients underwent correction of breast asymmetry and unilateral anterior thoracic hypoplasia with one-staged or two-staged reconstruction. Results: All patents were satisfied with the results and there occurred no specific complications. Conclusion: The authors propose the treatment plan for patient with Poland's syndrome, according to the degree of patient's deformity. In case of male patient with mild deformity, the prosthetic implant or latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous pedicled flap will simulate the missing pectoralis and improve the contour deformity. In case of female patient with moderate to severe breast asymmetry and upward displaced nipple areolar complex (NAC), NAC can be lowered with tissue expander, breast can be enlarged with autologous free flaps or latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous pedicled flap with implant.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.82-85
• /
• 2007

Free vascularized tissue transfer to preserve upper extremity amputation level is uncommon but very useful procedure. To cover the below-elbow amputee stump and restore the function of the elbow, we have used a free flap as a spare part concept from the contralateral hand which was so severely damaged that amputation was inevitable.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.253-257
• /
• 2022

The free fibula flap (FFF) is based on the peroneal artery (PA) system, and it is well known that several anatomical variations of the lower limb vascular system exist, including peronea arteria magna (PAM). PAM is a rare congenital variation in which both anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery are either aplastic or hypoplastic, and as a result, PA will be the dominant blood supply to the foot. This variation was described as type III-C in Kim-Lippert's Classification of the Infra-Popliteal Arterial Branching Variations. The awareness of its existence is crucial as it often precludes FFF from being harvested due to the risk of significant limb ischemia and limb loss. Despite some literature reporting donor site complications and impending limb loss following FFF harvest in PAM, preoperative vascular mapping before FFF transfer remains controversial among the microsurgeons. We present a case with an incidental intraoperative finding of PAM that had a successful FFF harvest by luck, without preoperative vascular mapping.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1992.11a
• /
• pp.67-67
• /
• 1992

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.652-655
• /
• 2015