• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Purpose : Plantar surfaces, calcaneal area, and region of Achilles insertion, which are extremely related with weight-bearing area and shoes application, must be reconstructed with glabrous and strong fibrous skin. Numerous methods of reconstructing defects of these regions have been advocated, but the transfer of similar local tissue as a cutaneous flap with preservation of sensory potential would best serve the functional needs of the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing surfaces of this region. Therefore it is recommended to use the limited skin of medial surface of foot that is similar to plantar region and non-weight-bearing area. In this paper we performed the medial plantar flap transfered as a fasciocutaneous island as one alterative for moderate-sized defects of the plantar forefoot, plantar heel, and area around the ankle in 25 cases and report the result, availability and problem of medial plantar flap. Materials and methods : We performed proximally based medial plantar flap in 22 cases and reverse flow island flap in 3 cases. Average age was $36.5(4{\sim}70)$ years and female was 3 cases. The causes of soft tissue defect were crushing injury on foot 4 cases, small bony exposure at lower leg 1 case, posterior heel defect with exposure of calcaneus 8 cases, severe sore at heel 2 cases, skin necrosis after trauma on posterior foot 4 cases, and defect on insertion area of Achilles tendon 6cases. Average follow up duration was 1.8(7 months-9.5 years) years. Results: Medial plantar flaps was successful in 22 patients. 18 patients preserved cutaneous branches of medial plantar nerve had sensation on transfered flap but diminished sensation or dysesthesia. At the follow up, we found there were no skin ulceration, recurrence of defect or skin breakdown in all 18 patients. But there was one case which occurred skin ulceration postoperatively among another 4 cases not contained medial plantar nerve. At the last follow up, all patients complained diminished sensation and paresthesia at medial plantar area distally to donor site, expecially with 4 patients having severe pain and discomfort during long-time walking. Conclusion : Medial plantar island flap based on medial plantar neurovascualr pedicle have low failure rate with strong fibrous skin and preserve sensibility of flap, so that it is useful method to reconstruct the skin and soft tissue defect of foot. But it should be emphasized that there are some complications such like pain and paresthesia by neuropraxia or injury of medial plantar nerve at more distal area than donor site. We may consider that medial plantar flap have limited flap size and small arc of rotation, and require skin graft closure of the donor defect and must chose this flap deliberately.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2009

Soft tissue sarcomas of popliteal fossa are rare, accounting for less than 5% of all soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. In an extracompartmental space such as the popliteal, cubital fossa and inguinal space, where major vessels and nerves traverse, performing resections with wide margin is difficult and sometimes marginal margin is inevitable for limb salvage. For popliteal tumor resection, posterior approach would be a classic method. For tumors with small size and not adherent to surrounding structures, tumor is easily resected by this approach and dissection of nerve sheath or adventitia of vessel. On the contrary, tumors of large size and infiltrating the posterior structure of knee joint may show difficulty in en-bloc resection itself. These cases were candidates for amputation. Furthermore, tumors involving both popliteal fossa and anterior compartment usually had no choice but to have an amputation to prevent local recurrence. We regarded soft tissue sarcoma showing this kind of presentation as bone tumor having extraosseous mass. We performed wide en-bloc resection of proximal tibia and fibula along with sarcoma involving both compartment on liposarcoma of 47-year old man.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.763-768
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• 2001

Background: The high pressure zone(HPZ) at the gastroesophageal junction is an important barrier for prevention of gastroesophageal reflux. Smooth muscle layers in the lower esophageal sphincter mainly contributes to HPZ at the throacoabdominal junction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the manometric characteristics of the thora-coabdominal junction in patients after surgical removal of the lower esophageal sphincter. Material and Method: Twenty two patients with prior esophagogastrectomy(10 Ivor-Lewis method and 12 left thoracotomy) and 30 normal adults(control group) were studied manometrically. Result: Esophageal manometry showed a HPZ and pressure inversion points distal to the anastomosis in 12 of 22 patients(2 of 10 patients with Ivor-Lewis method and 10 of 12 patients with left thoracotomy) and a HPZ in 30 of 30 normal adults. The location of HPZ front nostril was not significant different between the two groups(42.5$\pm$0.9cm in patients and 43.9$\pm$2.1cm in the control), while the length of HPZ was shorter in patients than in the control(2.13$\pm$0.6cm vs 2.83$\pm$0.59cm). By SPT and RPT, pressures of HPZ at rest were lower in patients(13.78$\pm$1.63mmHg, 28.58$\pm$6.06mmHg) than in control(20.3$\pm$4.95mmHg, 42.80$\pm$15.91mmHg). The HPZ relaxed partially in response to deglutition(84.4% in patient, 90.5% in control group) and contracted in response to increased intra- abdominal pressure induced by leg lifts(HPZ/ Intra-abdominal pressure= 1.81$\pm$0.23 in patient, 2.13$\pm$ 0.58 in control group).

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2017

Purpose: Soft tissue reconstruction of a defect around the foot and ankle is a particularly challenging procedure due to the anatomical and functional characteristics of this area. Hence, only a limited number of treatment options are available. Moreover, if patients wish to avoid additional scars on the ipsilateral lower leg for cosmetic reasons, even fewer options are available for treatment. The authors used an anterolateral thigh perforator flap for soft tissue defects in this area, when other surgical options were inadequate. The aim of this study was to report the clinical results and the efficacy of this procedure. Materials and Methods: Sixteen cases of soft tissue defects around the foot and ankle were included. Participants included 12 male and 4 female subjects, and the mean age was 34 years. The most common cause of defect was acute trauma, and the average follow-up period was 33 months. Flap survival time, surgical complications, and ambulation status at the final follow-up stage were evaluated. Results: All 16 flaps successfully survived, except for one case with partial flap necrosis that was thought to be due to weight bearing earlier than scheduled. All patients were able to walk independently without any aid at the final follow-up stage. No patients showed other significant surgical complications. Conclusion: The anterolateral thigh perforator flap is a good alternative for soft tissue defects of the foot and ankle, when other options are not applicable. This study also demonstrated that surgery using an anterolateral thigh perforator flap is safe and highly reliable.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.234-244
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• 2021

Purpose: To date, studies of firearm and explosive injuries in the Korean military have been limited compared to its importance. To overcome this, this study examined the characteristics of musculoskeletal damages in soldiers who have suffered firearm and explosive injuries over the past four years. Materials and Methods: From January 2015 to July 2019, military forces who had suffered musculoskeletal injuries from firearms or explosive substances were included. The medical records and radiographs were reviewed retrospectively, and telephone surveys about Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA) for this group were conducted. To compare the functional outcomes, statistical analysis was performed using a t-test for the types of weapons, and ANOVA for others. Results: Of the 61 patients treated for firearms and explosives injuries, 30 patients (49.2%) were included after undergoing orthopedic treatment due to musculoskeletal injury. The average age at injury was 26.4 years old (21-52 years old). The number of officers and soldiers was similar. Eleven were injured by gunshot and 19 by an explosive device. Sixteen were treated in the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and 10 at private hospitals. More than half of the 16 patients (53.3%) with a fracture had multiple fractures. The most common injury site was the hand (33.3%), followed by the lower leg (30.0%). There were 14 patients (46.7%) with Gustilo-Anderson classification 3B or higher who required a soft tissue reconstruction. Fifteen patients agreed to join the SMFA survey for the functional outcomes. Between officers and soldiers, officers had better scores in the Bother Index compared to soldiers (p=0.0045). Patients treated in the Armed Forces Capital Hospital had better scores in both the Dysfunction and Bother Index compared to private hospitals (p=0.0008, p=0.0149). Conclusion: This is the first study to analyze of weapons injuries in the Korean military. As a result of the study, the orthopedic burden was high in the treating patients with military weapon injuries. In addition, it is necessary to build a military trauma registry, including firearm and explosive injuries, for trauma treatment evaluation and development of military trauma system.