• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of foot mats on reducing levels of fatigue, discomfort, lower extremity edema and skin temperature in scrub nurses during surgery. Methods: This study employed one group repeated measures design in which 16 scrub nurses (ages 22-38) stood on steel footstools (SF) during scrub as the conventional test and stood on SF with foot mats as the experimental test. Levels of fatigue, discomfort, lower extremity edema and skin temperature were measured before the first surgical hand scrub and right after the first surgery of the day for 3 consecutive days in both tests. Results: The changes in levels of fatigue and discomfort were significantly different between tests (p<.001~.033). Edema, determined by the differences in circumferences of the ankles and calves before and after the surgery was also significantly different between groups (p=.001~.011). However, the change in skin temperature on the foot tops of both feet was not different between tests (p=.351~.467). Conclusion: The results of this study show that using foot mats on top of the steel footstool is effective in reducing the levels of fatigue, discomfort and lower extremity edema in scrub nurses during surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2020

Background Identifying patients who may be at high risk for wound complications postsarcoma resection and reconstruction is essential for improving functional outcomes and quality of life. Currently, the effect of timing on sarcoma reconstruction has been poorly investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of delayed and immediate reconstruction in the setting of sarcoma resection requiring flap reconstruction in the lower extremity. Methods A retrospective review of the senior author's sarcoma reconstruction patients from January 2005 to July 2017 was completed. All patients undergoing flap reconstruction of the lower extremity were included. Complications in the early postoperative period were compared between delayed and immediate reconstructive procedures. Results A total of 32 patients (7 delayed, 25 immediate) were included in this study. There was a significantly increased rate of overall complications (100% vs. 28.0%, P=0.001) and rate of hematomas (28.6% vs. 0.0%, P=0.042) in the delayed reconstruction group. Other complications including dehiscence, seroma, infection, venous thrombosis, and total/partial flap loss were also increased in the delayed reconstruction group, but this was not considered to be significant. Conclusions This study suggests that delayed reconstruction following sarcoma resection of the lower extremity had a higher incidence of overall complications and hematoma formation. We emphasize the importance of early plastic and reconstructive surgeon referral and the necessity to closely monitor delayed reconstruction patients for complications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.699-702
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• 2021

Extensive bone loss associated with severe vascular injury remains a challenge for lower extremity reconstruction. The fibular free flap has been utilized for many decades to reconstruct long-segment tibial defects. We present an unusual scenario of unilateral weight-bearing, wherein we salvaged the sole lower extremity by transfer of the fractured ipsilateral fibula and a bipedicled skin flap. A 38-year-old man sustained a severe crush injury in the right leg with loss of circulation. His left lower leg had a soft tissue defect measuring 20×15 cm with an exposed comminuted fracture and a 17-cm tibial defect, along with a segmental fracture of the fibula. Subsequently, we reconstructed the tibial defect by transferring a 17-cm-long section of the ipsilateral fibula. We covered the soft tissue defect with a bipedicled skin flap. The patient eventually began to ambulate independently after surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.205-207
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• 2008

Purpose: Although muscle hernia has been well described in the lower-extremity, muscle hernias in the upper extremity are extremely rare. As with lower extremity muscle hernias, the forearm muscle hernia may result from forced exertion of strenuous activity or following blunt trauma. The objective of this paper is to report an extraordinary case of forearm muscle hernia after radial forearm sensory tendocutaneous free flap with references. Methods: A 58-year-old male patient received wide excision and radical neck dissection and lower lip reconstruction with radial forearm sensory tendocutaneous free flap for squamous cell cancer on the lower lip. 16 weeks after the operation, he complained of protruding mass on the forearm and the size was increasing. In postoperative 18 weeks, MRI showed herniation of flexor digitorum superficialis. For unaesthetic cause and preventing progress, the authors performed direct fascial closure and Mesh graft. Results: In 12 months after the surgery there was no recurrence and the patient remained symptom-free. Conclusion: Pain on extremity exertion and unaesthetic buldge of forearm due to forearm muscle hernia were the primary indications for surgery which consist of direct closure, fasciotomy, fascia lata onlay graft, fascia lata inlay graft, etc. The authors experienced uncommon forearm muscle hernia after radial forearm free flap and satisfying result of treatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.619-621
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• 2020

This article portrays the authors' clinical experience of a complex case of lower extremity reconstruction using a recycled pedicle from 10 years old free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap to supply a new free anterolateral thigh flap for proximal tibia wound defect reconstruction. It provides clinical evidence that muscle neovascularization occurs and supports the dogma peripheral tissue neovascularization. This case stipulates that recycling of pedicle is feasible, when used with appropriate strategy and safety and also provides evidence for the long-term survival of greater saphenous vein grafts in lower extremity reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1995

Severe upper and lower extremity trauma may result in soft tissue loss with exposed bone and the subsequence of risk of chronic osteomyelitis or malunion of fracture fragments. Such injuries present a major reconstructive problem. But Since the introduction of microsugical technique, free muscle and myocutaneous flaps were employed to provide coverage of severely injured defects. Since Tai and Hasegawa(1974) first reported a breast reconstruction using by rectus abdominis myocuraneous flap, the free rectus myocutaneous flap has been widely employed for breast reconstuction, head and neck reconstruction, and extremity reconstruction in these days. The authors present their successful experience with free rectus abdominis muscle and rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for upper and low extremity reconstruction. From Nov. 94, to May 95, Five cases of severely injured extremites due to trauma or contact burn were treated with free rectus abdominis muscle flap or free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. All flaps except 1 case were survived without severe complications. As free muscle or myocutaneous flap, the free rectus abdominis flap has the advantages of a reliable pedicle, easy dissection, and an acceptable donor site, so it seems logical to apply the free rectus abdominis flap to apply in upper and lower extremity reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2012

Purpose: To report the clinical results of the perforated-based propeller flap for lower extremity soft tissue reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Between January 2010 and June 2012, a total of 16 defects in the lower extremities were covered with perforator-based propeller flaps. Retrospective data for location and size of the defect, flap dimension, pedicle artery, pedicle rotation, complications were obtained. Results: Peroneal artery-based perforator flap were used in eleven cases, posterior tibial artery-based perforator flap in two cases, anterior tibial artery-based perforator flap in one case and medial plantar artery-based perforator flap in two cases. The average size of the flaps was $63cm^2$. The marginal skin necrosis of the flaps as a complication was developed in two cases, one of which was covered with split-thickness skin graft. There were no functional deficits from the donor site. Conclusion: For the reconstruction of lower extremities, the perforator-based propeller flap could be a reasonable alternative as it is a simple, safe and versatile technique.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 2021

Mucormycosis is an invasive, rapidly progressive, life-threatening fungal infection, with a propensity for diabetic, immunosuppressed, and trauma patients. The classic rhinocerebral variation is most common in diabetic patients. While the cutaneous form is usually caused by direct inoculation in immunocompetent patients. Cutaneous mucormycosis manifests in soft tissue and risks involvement of underlying structures. Tibial osteomyelitis can also occur secondary to cutaneous mucormycosis but is rare. Limb salvage is typically successful after lower extremity cutaneous mucormycosis even when the bone is involved. Herein, we report two cases of lower extremity cutaneous mucormycosis in diabetic patients that presented as acute worsening of chronic pretibial ulcers. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy and surgical debridement, both ultimately required amputation. Such aggressive presentation has not been reported in the absence of major penetrating trauma, recent surgery, or burns.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.707-713
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• 2009

Purpose: The deep inferior epigastric perforator(DIEP) free flap is well known as an ideal donor site for the breast reconstruction. The flap can provide huge amount of fat tissue for breast and buttock contour, while it is also very useful as a thin skin flap to reconstruct the upper and lower extremities. We used a DIEP free flap in various site reconstructions besides the breast and would like to reinsure the usefulness of this flap. Methods: Twenty nine consecutive patients who underwent DIEP free flap surgery from 2001 January to 2007 December were reviewed. The case constituted seven male patients and twenty two female patients. There were sixteen breast reconstructions, five face reconstructions, five lower extremity reconstructions, two upper extremity reconstructions, and one buttock contour reconstruction. All clinical data were based on the patient's medical records. Results: All DIEP free flaps survived without major complications. There was no hematoma, seroma, or partial necrosis. The donor sites were closed primarily with linear scar on lower abdomen. The thinnest part of flap was 0.7 cm in thickness. The size of the largest flap was $38{\times}13cm$. The flaps were used in various types of skin and adipose tissue, adipose tissue only, and skin only according to the requirement of recipient site. Conclusion: The DIEP free flap was enough to provide a thin and huge flap for both breast and extremity reconstructions. It was able to provide versatile designs with sufficient adipose tissue. So we use it for 3 - dimentional face and buttock contour reconstructions. The DIEP free flap is a valuable reconstructive donor for face, upper and lower extremity in addition to breast without compromising the integrity of abdominal wall.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.201-204
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• 2014

Pulmonary embolism is a serious complication, which is well known in patients undergoing total hip or total knee arthroplasty or lower extremity fracture surgery. But, there are few literatures concerning pulmonary embolism after upper extremity surgery. Pulmonary embolism after minor upper extremity fracture surgery is extremely rare. We report a case of 66-year-old female patient that developed pulmonary embolism after percutaneous cannulated screw fixation for a greater tubercle fracture of the proximal humerus with literature review.