• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2013

Background Our objective was to compare the complication rates of two common breast reconstruction techniques performed at our hospital and the cost-effectiveness for each test group. Methods All patients who underwent deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap by the same surgeon were selected and matched according to age and mastectomy with or without axillary clearance. Patients from each resultant group were selected, with the patients matched chronologically. The remainder were matched for by co-morbidities. Sixteen patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps and 16 patients with DIEP flaps from 1999 to 2006 were accrued. The average total hospitalisation cost, length of hospitalisation, and complications in the 2 year duration after surgery for each group were compared. Results Complications arising from both the pedicled TRAM flaps and DIEP flaps included fat necrosis (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 4/16) and other minor complications (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 1/16). The mean hospital stay was 7.13 days (range, 4 to 12 days) for the pedicled TRAM group and 7.56 (range, 5 to 10 days) for the DIEP group. Neither the difference in complication rates nor in hospital stay duration were statistically significant. The total hospitalisation cost for the DIEP group was significantly higher than that of the pedicled TRAM group (P<0.001). Conclusions Based on our study, the pedicled TRAM flap remains a cost-effective technique in breast reconstruction when compared to the newer, more expensive and tedious DIEP flap.

• 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.37 no.6
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• pp.769-774
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• 2010

Purpose: As the soft tissue defect around the knee is difficult to reconstruct, local flap or free flap is used. Distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap introduced by Zhang uses sufficient reverse flow supplied from the vascular network around the knee. We report successful reconstruction of defect around knee by this method. Methods: Four patients with skin & soft tissue defect around knee have been treated for reconstruction using the distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap. First, the doppler was used to check the perforator flap of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery and to draw and dissect the perforator flap as much as needed. After the dissection, the proximal of the descending branch was clamped and checked for sufficient supply of blood flow from the reverse flow and then ligated. It was dissected along the descending branch and in order to prevent damage to the joined parts of the descending branch and the lateral superior geniculate artery, a more careful ligation was done starting from 10 cm superior to the knee. The defect was reconstructed after securing enough vascular pedicle to cover all the damaged parts. Results: Not all patients suffered from flap necrosis. In case of the patient with chronic osteomyelitis, slight venous congestion was observed right after the surgery but it disappeared the following day. All three patients had no occurences of additional complications. Conclusion: Distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap was enough to provide large flap for knee reconstruction. It had sufficient blood flow and vascular pedicle. It also had taken short operation time compared to the free flap operation. The distally based anterolateral thigh pedicled flap used by the authors is a very useful way of reconstructing the area around knee.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.62-66
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• 2009

Purpose: Despite the free tissue transfer using microsurgical technique being the current trend of soft tissue reconstruction of the hand, the pedicled groin flap has the advantage to provide coverage for the mangled hand without necessitating the use of a damaged arterial system and also providing the benefit of saving the arterial system for later free tissue transfer. This report presents the author's experience using pedicled groin flap in four cases of mangled hands with massive bone and soft tissue defects requiring later thumb reconstruction with the free wrap around flap. Materials and methods: The patients' age ranged from 30 to 51 years; three patients were male and one was female. The causes of mangled hand included two machinery crush injuries, one laboratory explosion and one motor vehicle accident. While evaluating the post-operative results, factors like flap survival, complications, stability in opposition, pinch power and 2 point discrimination were taken into account. Results: All massive soft tissue defects of the hands were completely covered with pedicled groin flap successfully. The reconstructed thumb using free wrap around flap did not have any limitation in opposition. There was no occurrence of post-operative infection and all the flaps survived completely. The average pinch power was 70% of the contralateral intact thumb and average 2 point discrimination was 10 mm. Conclusion: The pedicled groin flap for the reconstruction of the massive soft tissue defects of the hand with subsequent reconstruction of the thumb with a wrap around flap is a very useful procedure. The combined use of pedicled groin flap and wrap around flap allows adequate coverage of sizable soft tissue defects and functional thumb opposition in cases of reconstruction of the mangled hands.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.174-177
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• 2013

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a disease characterized by jaw necrosis and delayed wound healing in patients who had received bisphosphonates. Buccal fat pad (BFP) can be used as a pedicled flap in the posterior region of the oral cavity. BFP pedicle flap needs simple surgical technique and it shows less donor site morbidity and aesthetic problem than other vascularized flap. BFP pedicled flap was fed by 3 arteries-facial, internal maxillary, and transverse facial artery. Osteomyelitis was generally related with poor blood supply. Thus, rich blood supply of BFP pedicle flap can have a potential advantage to BRONJ patients. In this case report, we presented 3 BRONJ patients treated by BFP pedicle flap after sequestrectomy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2008

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy of superior gluteal artery-pedicled iliac crest for the treatment of avascular necrosis of femoral head. Material & Method: From January 2001 to October 2001, we used the superior deep branches of superior gluteal artery for the pedicled posterior iliac crest bone graft to revascularize the avascular femoral head in 4 patients. They were 1 man and 3 women, and the mean age of the patients was 34 years (range, 27 to 60). The average follow-up after surgery was over 57 months (range, 15 to 82). We analyzed the clinical results by the Harris hip score, and evaluated the vascularity of the femoral head by radiographic methods. Results: All cases showed no evidence of collapse on femoral heads and good revascularizations on the radiographic images. The average Harris hip score was 88.5 points. There was no complication. Conclusion: The revascularization procedure using the superior gluteal artery-pedicled posterior iliac crest was thought to be one of the effective and promising techniques for the treatment of the avascular necrosis of femoral head.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2011

Purpose: Cancer arising from the external auditory canal is a rare disease. A lesion that seems harmless in someway, can be lethal when inadequately excised, the tumor may infiltrate nerves, the parotid and auditory tissues before re-invading the skin. Wide resection of the lesion surrounding the structure and reconstruction with an adequate plan is crucial for the treatment of this disease. Methods: Two patients with external auditory canal cancer were treated with muscle flaps and skin grafts. Lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) was performed for complete resection of the cancer. The defect cavity was obliterated with highly vascularized tissue using pedicled sternocleidomastoid muscle, and temporalis muscle individually, combined with full thickness skin graft for covering the skin defect of the ear. Results: Clear resection margin was obtained, and both patients showed disease free survival during the follow up. There was no complications of hematoma, infection, flap loss, or wound problem in both patients. Both patient received radiation therapy, there was no osteoradionecrosis or any other complication related to radiation therapy. Conclusion: Utilizing pedicled muscle flaps for managing defects after wide resection of the external auditory canal cancer is an effective method for managing this difficult disease.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 1998

Various local flaps and distant flaps including tongue flap, palatal island flap, and buccal flap as well as skin grafts have been used for the reconstruction of oral mucosal defect. In the posterior region of oral cavity and the buccal cheek area, buccal fat pad can be used as a pedicled graft. The buccal fat pad is different from other subcutaneous fat tissue and it is easily accessible. There are many advantages in pedicled buccal fat pad graft for the closure of oral mucosal defect. The procedure is easy, there is no visible scar in the donor site, it is capable of reconstruction of various contour, and it has good viability. We had used buccal fat pad as a pedicled graft for the closure of oral mucosal defect after the excision of tumor and the oroantral fistula. From the results of these cases, we concluded that the use of the buccal fat pad flaps was worth of the consideration for the reconstruction of oral mucosal defect in the regions of the buccal cheek, and posterior oral cavity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.326-328
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• 2011

Purpose: The anatomical anomaly of the rectus abdominis muscle and it's fascia is very rare. No case of the absence of the linea alba below the umbilicus has yet been reported. During breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap, we experienced one case of absence of linea alba. Methods: The patient was a 38-years old female who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap after Right modified radical mastectomy in June 2010. While the TRAM flap was being elevated, bilateral twitching of the rectus abdominis muscle occurred when electrocautery was applied, and we found the absence of the linea alba below the umbilicus. Results: When the rectus abdominis muscle was exposed, the linea alba below the umbilicus was not observed, and the bilateral rectus abdominis muscle was indistinguishably fused in a gross observation. In addition, bilateral twitching of rectus abdominis muscle was simultaneously observed as one muscle unit when electrocautery was applied. As with both rectus abdominis muscles was bluntly dissected with scissors, the scanty fatty tissues were observed between the both rectus muscles, and the bilateral rectus abdominis muscle was easily separated. The flap was transposed into the corresponding defect to make breast mound. Midline fascia was fixed to the posterior rectus sheath to reconstruct smilar anatomic linea alba. Abdominal defect was reinforced by suturing between remaining anterior rectus sheath. Conclusion: As the unexpected anatomical anomaly may affect the operation outcome, surgeons should be careful when they unexpectedly encounter the anatomical anomaly during an operation. Here, we report a rare case of absence of the linea alba seen at the time of pedicled TRAM flap elevation for breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.113-115
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• 2011

We present our experience of reconstruction of inguinal soft tissue defect following inguinal lymphadenectomy, because of penile squamous cell carcinoma. Malignant infiltration required wide resection, producing a defect requiring complex soft tissue reconstruction. We have used a pedicled anterolateral thigh flap as our first choice flap for this case. Patient achieved reasonable esthetic coverage. Complications were few and patient achieved durable long term coverage. We found this flap to be technically easy, reliable and effective.