• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.161-167
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• 2006

After total glossectomy, recovery of swallowing and speech function can greatly improve quality of life. The reconstructed tongue must be thick enough to contact with the hard palate for articulation. If the free flap is denervation, it may procede to have atrophy postoperatively. Therefor it is difficult to maintain the tongue volume for a long period of time. To resolve this problem, we have used a innervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap and maintaining the volume through a neurorrhaphy. 7 patients underwent immediate reconstruction using a reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap in which included intercostal nerve was anastomosed to the remaining hypoglossal nerve. The reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap has provided good tongue contour with sufficient bulk and shown no obvious atrophy in all patients even though postoperative 9 months later. Considering swallowing and articulation, we concluded that reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap is a viable method after total glossectomy

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of free musculocutaneous flap in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with drain sinus. Materials and Methods : Eighteen patients (sixteen male and two female) whose average age was 42.6 years were followed for an average of 3.5 years after free musculocutaneous flap for chronic osteomyelitis with drain sinus tract. The period of time between the initial injury and this procedure was average 10.6 years. The patients had an average of 4.1 prior surgical procedure before it. Results : Sixteen(88.9%) of the eighteen free musculocutaneous flap survived, including thirteen of latisimus dorsi flap, three of scapular free flap with muscle, two of medial plantar flap with abductor muscle. Sixteen cases had no evidence of recurrence at follow up. Conclusion : Free musculocutaneous flap is an extremely successful and reliable procedure for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with drain sinus. This flap with microvascular anastomses is highly vascularized through its own intrinsic blood vessels, which has the advantage of obliterating dead space and providing improved vascularity to the relatively ischemic recipient site and covering the skin defect.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.815-820
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• 2011

Purpose: Perforator flaps have been widely used for reconstruction of pressure sores because they have many benefits, especially reducing tension. Otherwise in order to prevent recurrence of a pressure sore, sufficient thickness of a flap is desirable, so a musculocutaneous flap is also useful for reconstruction of a pressure sore. Therefore, the authors considered about the postoperative results of reconstruction of pressure sores between using perforator flaps and musculocutaneous flaps. Methods: In this study, 33 patients (46 flaps) who underwent reconstructive operation of pressure sores from January 2007 to February 2011 were reviewed. Patients operated by using perforator flaps were 18 (18 flaps), and musculocutaneous flaps were 17 (28 flaps). We studied postoperative complications and recurrence. Results: We experienced five patients (10 flaps) with complications or recurrences who were operated using musculocutaneous flaps and one patient using a perforator flap. One case using a perforator flap stemmed from dehiscence caused by a urinary fistula occurring in two months after the surgery. Among ten cases using musculocutaneous flaps, one case was caused by total necrosis of flap, five cases by partial necrosis of flap and dehiscence, and four cases by recurrences during follow-up period. Conclusion: Even if more cases were required, it can be more considerable to operate using the perforator flap rather than the musculocutaneous flap to reduce the complication or recurrence of pressure sore.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.707-710
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• 2011

Purpose: Cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures using fluoroscopy were performed for the treatment of supraventricular and selected ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Fluoroscopy is used to localize the position of the intracardiac catheter. Fluoroscopically-guided procedures often involve high radiation doses to patient's skin, but the incidence of serious radiation injuries in these patients is rare. We reported two cases of severe postradiation skin injury on the back treated with the V-Y latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. Methods: These two patients underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation under the diagnosis of Woff Parkinson White syndrome (WPW syndrome). They had radiation-induced skin injuries on the subscapular area and these lesions represented chronic ulceration, surrounding induration, hardness, and dyspigmentation. We treated these lesions with complete excision and coverage with V-Y latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. Results: These two patients had no recurrence and no special complications during 20 months and 12 months follow-up periods and were satisfied aesthetically and functionally. Conclusion: V-Y latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap obtained better results functionally and aesthetically compared with conservative management and skin graft in severe radiation-induced skin injuries after cardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.556-561
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• 2014

Background Groin dissections result in large wounds with exposed femoral vessels requiring soft tissue coverage, and the reconstructive options are diverse. In this study we reviewed our experience with the use of the pedicled anterolateral thigh and vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps in the reconstruction of large groin wounds. Methods Groin reconstructions performed over a period of 10 years were evaluated, with a mean follow up of two years. We included all cases with large or complex (involving perineum) defects, which were reconstructed with the pedicled anterolateral thigh musculocutaneous or the vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (VRAM) flaps. Smaller wounds which were covered with skin grafts, locally based flaps and pedicled muscle flaps were excluded. Results Twenty-three reconstructions were performed for large or complex groin defects, utilising the anterolateral thigh (n=10) and the vertical rectus abdominis (n=13) pedicled musculocutaneous flaps. Femoral vein reconstruction with a prosthetic graft was required in one patient, and a combination flap (VRAM and gracilis muscle flap) was performed in another. Satisfactory coverage was achieved in all cases without major complications. No free flaps were used in our series. Conclusions The anterolateral thigh and vertical rectus abdominis pedicled musculocutaneous flaps yielded consistent results with little morbidity in the reconstruction of large and complex groin defects. A combination of flaps can be used in cases requiring extensive cover.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.593-600
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• 2023

Background Soft tissue reconstruction around the knee area is still an open question, particularly in persistent infections and multiple reoperations scenario. Flap coverage should guarantee jointmobility and protection, even when foreign materials are implanted. The chimeric harvesting of the musculocutaneous gastrocnemius flap, based on the sural artery perforators, can extend its applicability in soft tissue reconstruction of the upper leg, overcoming the drawbacks of the alternative pedicled flaps. Methods A multicenter retrospective study was conducted enrolling patients who underwent to a pedicled, chimeric gastrocnemius musculocutaneous-medial sural artery perforator (GM-MSAP) or lateral sural artery perforator (GM-LSAP) flap for knee coverage in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recurrent infections and oncological or traumatic defects of the upper leg from 2018 to 2021. Outcomes evaluated were the successful soft tissue reconstruction and flap complications. Surgical timing, reconstruction planning, technique, and rehabilitation protocols were discussed. Results Twenty-one patients were included in the study. Nineteen GM-MSAPs and 2 GM-LSAPs were performed (soft tissue reconstruction in infected TKA [12], in infected hardware [4], and in oncological patients [5]). Donor site was closed primarily in 9 cases, whereas a skin graft was required in 12. Flap wound dehiscence (1), distal flap necrosis (1), distal necrosis of the skin paddle (1), and donor site infection (1) were the encountered complications. Flap reraise associated to implant exchange or extensive debridement was successful without requiring any further flap surgery. Conclusion The propeller-perforator GM-MSAP offers qualitative defect coverage and easiness of multiple flap reraise due to skin availability and its laxity.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2014

One of the most frequently used flaps for coverage of sacral skin and soft-tissue defects is the gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap. These authors encountered two cases of sacral pressure sore, for which reconstructive surgery was performed, using the hatchet-shaped gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap - a modified flap type. We report on our experience in treatment of these two cases, with an excellent outcome.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2022

The latissimus dorsi flap has high vascularity and is helpful for the reconstruction of infected areas. Herein, we present a patient with recurrent infections and soft-tissue defects who underwent cranial reconstruction using a free latissimus dorsi flap. The patient had undergone craniectomy and reconstruction using alloplastic bone 18 years previously. A scalp defect accompanied by infection occurred five years ago, and patient underwent reconstruction using a free flap at another hospital; however, the problem persisted. After debridement and bone flap removal, the right latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was elevated, and the thoracodorsal artery and vein were anastomosed end-to-end to the right superficial temporal artery and vein. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was eradicated, and the flap survived. Cranioplasty was performed eight months later, and one year follow-up proceeded without complications. Effective reconstruction and cranioplasty are possible using the free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, even on scalp with persistent infections and soft-tissue defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.277-280
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• 2010

Purpose: The resection of locally advanced or recurred breast cancers frequently result in large chest wall defects and it leads to a great challenges to cover. Generally simple skin grafts are not a practical option for patients because of their poor cosmetic appearance and prognosis. The latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap have traditionally been recommended for closure of these large defects. Though the cosmetic result of reconstruction using these flaps is often excellent, but has significant drawbacks. Therefore, we thought that chest wall reconstruction using the external oblique musculocutaneous flap can be an alternative method for extensive chest wall defect related to large, locally advanced breast carcinoma. Methods & Results: We present a case of a 50-year-old Korean female, refered to our department with a left breast tumor for 10 months. CT demonstrate a large tumor on the left anterior chest wall and multiple nodules of varying size in the cervical areas and liver. FDG-PET showed areas of hot uptake throughout the left chest wall, mediastinum and liver. Biopsy was consistent with invasive ductal carcinoma (Grade III). The initial tumor was considered inoperable, so a series of chemotherapy was initiated. Though the size of the breast mass was slightly decreased, the patient continued to suffer from purulent discharge, unpleasant odor and contact bleeding of the mass, the salvage mastectomy was performed. Conclusion: We could reconstruct $23{\times}16\;cm$ sized large chest wall defect, resulting from the resection of a locally advanced breast carcinoma, using an external oblique musculocutaneous flap successfully. Immediate postoperatively checked flap was healthy. Overall result was good without any significant complications and discharged 3 weeks after operation.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2014

An 8-year-old girl diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and Russell-Silver syndrome was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit due to low cardiac output and multiple-organ dysfunction. The patient was placed on the heart transplant waiting list and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed as a bridge to transplantation. After 17 days, heart transplantation was performed. The donor was a 46-year-old female (weight, 50 kg; height, 150 cm). The donor:recipient weight ratio was 3.37:1. Because the dimension and volume of the recipient's thoracic cage were insufficient, the sternum could not be closed. Nine days after transplantation, the patient underwent delayed sternal closure. To obtain adequate space, we left the sternum 4.5 cm apart from each margin using four transverse titanium plates. A transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap was chosen to cover the wound. Due to the shortage of donors, a size-mismatched pediatric heart transplantation is sometimes unavoidable. Closure of the opened sternum of a transplant recipient can be challenging. Sternal reconstruction after an extremely oversized heart transplantation with transverse titanium plate fixation and a musculocutaneous flap can effectively achieve sternal closure and stability.