• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.319-323
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• 2019

Cochlear implant extrusion, which is a common complication of cochlear implants, is generally repaired by a well visualized soft-tissue flap. A 61-year-old female patient with a medical history of schizophrenia who had a skin ulcer that caused cochlear implant extrusion, but that would be a stronger statement was referred to our department for removal of the implant and reconstruction of the resultant scalp defect. Accordingly, the broad defect was covered via rotation of a temporoparietal fascia flap (TPFF) using the superficial temporal artery, with the pedicle in the preauricular region as the pivot point. Coverage of TPFF was achieved with a split-thickness skin graft using the scalp as the donor site, which led to a quick recovery after the operation and satisfactory results in terms of aesthetics. This case suggests that a TPFF might be used as a flexible flap with low donor site morbidity for reconstructing cases of cochlear implant extrusion accompanied by a large full-layer scalp defect.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.492-495
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• 2010

Purpose: Facial tumor excision is a common cause of lower eyelid defect in old patients. Many methods have been introduced for the reconstruction of lower eyelid. However, conventional surgical method can cause various complications like scar, ectropion and unnatural color matching. Thus, we introduce a simple and aesthetically acceptable method for the reconstruction of lower eyelid defect. Methods: Three elderly patients with skin cancer in the unilateral lower eyelid were operated by the new method. Following a wide excision of skin cancer, subcilliary incision of lower blepharoplasty was carried out. Elevated skin flap of lower eyelid was redrapped for the correction of defect and the remnant skin from lateral portion of lower eyelid was used for full thickness skin graft (FTSG) to correct the remaining defect. Results: All grafts survived and color match of the graft was excellent without ectropion. Furthermore, wrinkles of the lower eyelid were improved after the blepharoplasty. Conclusion: Lower eyelid defect resulting from wide excision of malignant tumor in old patients could be reconstructed successfully by modifying the conventional lower eyelid blepharoplasty along with FTSG using the remnant skin.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.687-690
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• 2010

Purpose: Hidroacanthoma simplex (HAS) is a rare benign neoplasm of the skin and known as intraepidermal poroma. Malignant transformation of HAS has been reported in the literature, but it is very rare. We experienced a case of malignant hidroacanthoma simplex (MHA) and performed the surgery of the neoplasm. Methods: A 73-year-old patient visited our department for evaluation and treatment of the skin lesion ($3.2{\times}3.0\;cm^2$) that occurred two years before on the right ankle area. The lesion was characterized by dark-brown, hyperkeratotic and protruding patch. The patient had no symptom, and any palpable lymph node was not found on physical examination. The result of laboratory was also nonspecific. The lesion was excised completely with a resection margin of 5 mm including subcutaneous tissue partially, followed by full-thickness skin graft for reconstruction. Results: The result of biopsy was reported as malignant hidroacanthoma simplex. Histologically, the epidermis showed discrete aggregates of tumor cells which had round, hyperchromatic nuclei and pale or clear abundant cytoplasm. Cystic spaces were found within the tumor and mitosis were seen, frequently. No recurrence was found one month after surgery. Conclusion: The case of malignant hidroacanthoma simplex was treated with full-thickness skin graft following wide excision of the tumor.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.541-545
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• 2006

Purpose: There are many methods for the reconstruction of the facial defect after an excision of a skin cancer; such as skin graft, local flap, free flap, etc... Skin graft has its' limitations; it could remain in different color with in regards of the recipient to donor, with an unfavorable scar. Free flap can lead to big donor site morbidity with long operation time and uncontrolled scar as a disadvantage factor. Compared to the prior, local flap offers several merits; sufficient blood supply, good tissue quality and short operation time. We revised 'V-Y-S flap' for the facial defect, which proved to have favorable outcomes. Methods: Total 7 V-Y-S flaps were performed to patients with skin cancers(six squamous cell carcinoma and one basal cell carcinoma). Two of these flaps were combined with composite grafts, one with full thickness skin graft. Six patients were female and one male. The average diameter of defects after excision was 2.3 cm. The follow-up period was 18 months maximally. Results: We treated seven facial skin cancers with 'V-Y-S flap'. There were no flap necrosis, cancer recurrence and scar contracture as a result. Furthermore, this method also offers a favorable central scar line that is parallel to the nasolabial fold and the nasojugal groove, especially in the nasolabial area and superomedial side of the cheek. With this method, we could cover a maximum diameter of 4cm facial defect. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is suggested that V-Y-S flap is a useful method to cover facial defects after the excision of a skin cancer.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2009

Purpose: Various techniques have been attempted for design of the flaps. However, there are some disadvantages. They have thin, pliable, and two dimensional methods. The aim of this study is to report usefulness of polyurethane foam dressing materials for three dimensional design of the digital island flap. Methods: From June of 2007 to september of 2008, 10 patients received digital island flap surgery for soft tissue defect of the finger. After minimal debridement of the wound, size and shape of the defect were measured using polyurethane foam. We used Medifoam-$5^{(R)}$ And then, designed this inset the wound. The flap was designed on the donor site with a arterial pedicle as the central axis according to size and shape. A full thickness skin graft from the groin is applied on the flap donor defect and secured with a tieover bolster dressing. Results: Reviewing sizes of the flaps, the length and width of flaps ranged from 1.5 to 3.3 cm and 1.0 to 2.5 cm. The PACS(Picture Archiving Communication System) program allows identification of the donor depth of finger. The distance for the soft tissue ranged from 4.3 mm to 6.7 mm. Mean depth of donor site was 5.3${\pm}$0.6 mm. Also, the thickness of Medifoam-$5^{(R)}$ ranged nearly 5 mm. On flap insetting, full-thickness skin graft was necessary. We did not experience any problems in the recipient site size either, regardless of the extended flaps. Conclusion: Polyurethane foam has many advantages over the more conventional templates. Refinements in flap design and surgical technique resulted in favorable functional and cosmetic results. Especially, for beginner, Polyurethane foam dressing material is a simple and safe tool and therefore is an excellent choice for design of the island flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2019

Background Full-thickness nail bed defects with significant exposure of the distal phalanx are typically challenging to reconstruct. We describe a novel method of nail bed defect reconstruction using a thenar fascial flap combined with nail bed grafting. Methods Full-thickness nail bed defects were reconstructed in a 2-stage operation involving the placement of a thenar fascial flap and subsequent nail bed grafting. A proximally-based skin flap was designed on the thenar eminence. The flap was elevated distally to proximally, and the fascial layer covering the thenar muscle was dissected proximally to distally. The skin flap was then closed and the dissected fascial flap was turned over (proximal to distal) and inset onto the defect. The finger was immobilized for 2 weeks, and the flap was dressed with wet and ointment dressings. After 2 weeks, the flap was divided and covered with a split-thickness nail bed graft from the great toe. Subsequent nail growth was evaluated on follow-up. Results Nine patients (9 fingers) treated with the novel procedure were evaluated at follow-up examinations. Complete flap survival was noted in all cases, and all nail bed grafts took successfully. Five outcomes (55.6%) were graded as excellent, three (33.3%) as very good, and one (11.1%) as fair. No donor site morbidities of the thenar area or great toe were observed. Conclusions When used in combination with a nail bed graft, the thenar fascial flap provides an excellent means of nail bed reconstruction.

• 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.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.209-213
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• 2013

Background A cartilage wedge block and covering flap are standard procedures for firm elevation of the ear in microtia correction. However, using costal cartilage for elevation of the reconstructed auricle can be insufficient, and the fixed cartilage wedge block may be absorbed or may slip out. Furthermore, elevating covering flaps is time-consuming and uses up fascia, a potential source of reconstruction material. Therefore, we propose an innovative method using autologous onlay rib bone graft for auricular elevation of microtia. Methods From February 1995 to August 2012, 77 patients received a first stage operation with a rib cartilage framework graft. In the second stage operation, a small full thickness of rib bone was harvested through the previous donor scar. The bihalved rib bone was inserted into the subperiosteal pocket beneath the cartilage framework. Results The follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 17 years, with a mean of 3 years. All of the patients sustained the elevation of their ears very well during the follow-up period. Donor site problems, except for hypertrophic scars, were not observed. Surgery-related complications, specifically skin necrosis, infection, or hematoma, occurred in 4 cases. Conclusions Onlay rib bone graft used to elevate the reconstructed auricle is a more anatomically appropriate material than cartilage, due to the bone-to-bone contact between the bone graft and the temporal bone. Postoperative minor correction of the elevation degree is straightforward and the skin graft survives better. Therefore, reconstructed auricle elevation using onlay rib bone graft is a useful and valuable method.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.784-788
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• 2006

Purpose: For the reconstruction of the ankle joint as well as the soft tissue defect in the distal lower leg, a free flap or a local flap has been used, and because of the condition of patients, if a complex microvascular surgery under general anesthesia could not be performed, it could be reconstructed by using the distally based lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap using the perforating branch of the peroneal artery in the ankle area. Methods: The study subjects were 4 male patients between 53 years and 73 years of age. 2 cases were tissue defect in the medial malleolus area due to systemic diseases such as gouty arthritis accompanied traffic accident, diabetes mellitus foot, atherosclerotic obliterans, etc., 1 case was the defect in the pretibia area, and 1 case was the defect underneath the lateral malleolus, which was reconstructed by the distally based lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap. The donor area was the skin harvested from the groin, and the full thickness skin graft was performed. The size of the flap varied from $4{\times}3cm$ to $9{\times}6cm$. As the flap border, the medial side was to the tibialis anterior tendon, the lateral side was to the fibula crest, and the proximal area was less than the fibula size. Results: The consequence is that, in total 4 cases, the congestion in the flap began from 12 hours after the surgery, and the progression of congestion was ceased on the 5th day after the surgery, and finally epidermal bulla and sloughing, partial necrosis was developed. After the end of necrosis, the defect area was reconstructed successfully by the second full thickness skin graft. Conclusions: Although the distally based lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap has the shortcoming of requiring the second skin graft, it has the advantages that it does not require a long complex microsurgery, the flap itself is thin, it is similar to the color of the skin in the recipient area, and it does not leave a big scar in the donor area. Therefore, it is thought that for the cases who could not undergo a long complex surgery due to systemic diseases or the cases of patients whose condition of the recipient area is not suitable for microsurgery, the lateral supramalleolar fascio-cutaneous island flap is very useful for the reconstruction of the distal lower leg and the ankle joint area.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2013

Muir-Torre syndrome is defined by concurrent or sequential development of internal malignancy and sebaceous neoplasm or multiple keratoacanthomas. Muir-Torre syndrome is very rare, with only 205 cases reported in the literature. We reported a patient with Muir-Torre syndrome with three internal malignancies. A 64-year-old patient with a history of breast cancer, stomach cancer and colon cancer visited our department for treatment of the skin lesion that occurred five years before on the left cheek. The lesion was excised completely with a resection margin of 1 cm, followed by full-thickness skin graft from left postauricular area for reconstruction. Histopathology revealed a $0.2{\times}0.2{\times}0.1cm$ sized sebaceous carcinoma with 4 mm safety margin. The skin graft was well taken within 7 days after surgery and the patient was discharged to outpatient follow-up. There was no complication related with surgery. Muir-Torre syndrome is very rare, as are sebaceous gland tumors. So if a cancer of the sebaceous gland is diagnosed, screening workup for internal malignancy is recommended. Because of its good prognosis, surgical removal of primary or metastatic cancers may be curative and should be attempted where possible.