• 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.

• 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 Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2008

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the necessity of distant pedicled flap in the treatment of soft tissue defects in the hand. Materials and Methods: Distant pedicled flap was performed in the 25 hands of 25 patients from 2000 to 2004. There were 20 males and 5 females and mean age was 34 years. The surgery was done for electrical burns in 13 patients, flame burns in 8 patients and crushing injuies in 4 patients. Results: We have performed 25 distant pedicled flaps for the coverage of soft tissue defects in the hands when local and free flaps were unavailable. Soft tissue coverages by distant pedicled flap were completely successful in all the 25 hands. No complication such as total flap loss, marginal flap loss and infection occurred. Conclusion: Distant pedicled flaps were very useful alternative method in the treatment of soft tissue defect in the hand.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.97-100
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• 2010

Purpose: Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare genetic disease, characterized by the presence of extremely fragile skin and formation of recurrent blister resulting from even a minor mechanical injury. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is recognized as a complication of the chronic scarring associated with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). When a soft tissue defect happens in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa, it is difficult to cover it with a skin graft or a flap. We describe the successful use of a pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for the reconstruction of SCC associated with DEB in the groin. Methods: A 29-year-old man diagnosed with DEB at birth sustained an ulcer increasing in the right groin for the last 7 months. Under general anesthesia, the mass lesion and lymph nodes were removed and the resulting defect was covered with a pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. Results: The flap survived completely and his postoperative course was uneventful. Histopathological examination revealed a SCC in the right groin and malignant tumor cells in the removed lymph nodes as well. Additional positron emission tomogram showed a malignant lesion in the ileocecal area with regional lymph node metastasis. The patient was referred to an oncologist for chemotheraphy, but the patient refused to take it. During a 4-month follow-up period, there was no recurrence in the right groin. Conclusion: We suggest that perforator flaps can be considered as a reliable alternative for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects in a patient with DEB.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.263-267
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• 2006

In both cosmetic and functional aspects, loss of digital pulp is a common problem. Compound or composite defects of the hand and fingers with exposed denuded tendon, bone, joint, or neurovascular structures may require flap coverage. Most often these lesions can be repaired by using simple local flap, neurovascular flap, thenar flap, and cross-finger flap. But microvascular reconstruction is sometimes needed for large defects. But Authors do not recommend these procedures in case of severe crushing injuries involving multiple finger pulp losses because they have possibility of damage of the vascular network and infection. So we applied distant flaps such as chest flaps, groin flaps, abdominal flaps and etc. And then we applied surgical rubber gloves for remodeling the flap after cutaneous healing. We have acquired satisfactory results, after the simple molding method for distant flap finger by using surgical rubber gloves treatment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.35-61
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• 1985

The surgical treatment of advanced carcinomas and some benign tumors having clinically malignant behaviors of the head and neck region often require extensive resection, necessitating large flaps for reconstruction. Since the original upper arm flap was described by Tagliacozzi in 1597, a variety of technique such as random pattern local flap, axial flap, distant flap, scalping flap, myocutaneous flap, free flap etc. have been proposed for reconstruction of head, face and neck defects. Reconstruction of the facial defects usually require the use of distant tissue. Traditionally, nasal reconstruction has been carried out with a variety of forehead flaps. In recent years, there has been more acceptance of immediate repairs following the removal of these tumors. As a result, patients are more willing to undergo these extensive resections to improve their chances of cure, with the reasonable expectation that an immediate reconstruction will provide an adequate cosmetic result. Authors experienced 13 cases of head and neck tumor during last three and half years that required wide excision and immediate reconstruction with various flaps, not with primary closure or simple skin graft. We present our experience with varied flaps for reconstruction after wide resection of head and neck tumors 3 cases of defect of dorsum of nose or medial canthus with island forehead flaps, lower eyelid defect with cheek flap, cheek defect with Limberg flap, orbital floor defect with Temporalis muscle flap, lateral neck defects with Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap or Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap, subtotal nose defect with scalping flap, wide forehead defect with Dorsalis pedis free flap and 3 cases of mandibular defect or mandibular defect combined with lower lip defect were reconstructed with free vascularized iliac bone graft or free vascularized iliac bone graft concomitantly combined with free groin flap pedicled on deep circumflex iliac vessels We obtained satisfactory results coincided wi th goal of treatment of head and neck tumors, MAXIMAL CURE RATE with MINIMAL MORBIDITY, OPTIMAL FUNCTION, and an APPEARANCE as close to normal as possible.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.616-620
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• 2011

Purpose: Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster syndrome (MRK) is second common cause of primary amenorrhea. It is a syndrome of vaginal aplasia and Mullerian duct anomaly. Vaginal aplasia varies from agenesis of whole vagina to aplasia of upper 2/3. For reconstructing vagina, various methods are introduced. Gracilis myocutaneous flap was the first attempt in that the flap is used in vaginal reconstruction. Various flap-based vaginal reconstruction methods have been introduced. Modified Singapore flap (pedicled neurovascular pudendal thigh fasciocutaneous flap) is one of those methods that used posterior labial artery as pedicle, and pudendal nerve branch as sensory root. As its donor lies on inguinal crease that is easily hidden and there are benefits on sexual intercourse by early sensory recovery, authors think that modified Singapore flap is effective for young MRK syndrome patients. Methods: Eight patients underwent surgery between 2008 and 2010. The flap was designed on both groin area with external pudendal artery branch as a pedicle. All flaps were fixated in pelvic cavity with absorbable suture, and additional compression on neovaginal wall was supplied by polyvinyl alcohol sponge ($Merocel^{(R)}$). Results: All patients were successfully reconstructed without flap related complications such as congestion or partial flap loss. The average size of the flap (each side) was 69.34 $cm^2$. Polyvinyl alcohol sponge ($Merocel^{(R)}$) was inserted into neovagina for 5 days on every patient. One case of rectal laceration was occurred while making pelvic pocket by OBGY team. Other complications such as lumen narrowing, wound contracture or vaginal prolapsed were not reported during 8 months of follow up. Conclusion: Modified Singapore flap is a sensate fasciocutaneous flap that is thinner than other myocutaneous flap such as VRAM, and more durable over skin graft. Therefore this is a good choice for vaginal reconstruction in MRK syndrome. And known complications of Modified Singapore flap could be reduced with careful procedure and mild compression techniques.