• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.593-598
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• 2007

Purpose: Talipes equinus deformity is defined as impossibility of heel weight-bearing and lacking of improvement of toe-tip gait despite sufficient duration of conservative treatment. The incidence of equinus deformity induces post-traumatic extensive soft tissue defect and subsequently increases it. Severe equinus deformities of the foot associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle were corrected using achilles Z-lengthening and free-tissue transfer. Methods: Free radial forearm flap was done in nine cases of eight patients from January 2000 to November 2006. Causes of deformity were post-traumatic contracture (one patient) and post-burn scar contracture (seven patients). Seven patients were male, one patient was female. Mean age was 32.1 (range, 10-57). Flap donors were covered with artificial dermis ($Terudermis^{(R)}$) and split thickness skin graft (five cases), and medium thickness skin graft only (four cases). Results: The size of flaps varied from $6{\times}12$ to $15{\times}12cm$ (average, $12{\times}7.8cm$). Achilles tendon was lengthened 4.2cm on average. Free radial forearm flap was satisfactory in all cases. All patients could ambulate normally after the surgery. Cases having donor coverage with $Terudermis^{(R)}$ were aesthetically better than those having skin grafts only. Conclusion: This study suggested that severe equinus deformities associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle can be corrected effectively free radial forearm flap and Achilles tendon lengthening.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.53-57
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• 2022

Reconstruction of subtotal maxillectomy defects with columella deficit is challenging. We report a unique case of facial reconstruction using a free radial forearm flap and a free preauricular flap for the maxillectomy and columella deficit. A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed with recurrent sebaceous carcinoma of the nose. We performed wide excision, including areas of the right cheek, nose, upper lip, maxilla, and columella. The resultant subtotal maxillectomy defect was reconstructed using a three-dimensional flap. First, a free radial forearm flap was transfered to resurface the nasal, oral, and external facial side. Second, a preauricular flap was positioned into the columella defect and anastomosed with the distal portion of the radial forearm flap pedicle. The two flaps survived, and the patient recovered uneventfully. We believe the radial forearm and preauricular double free flaps with the pedicle connection method were effective in reconstructing the present case of subtotal maxillectomy defect.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.5-8
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• 2015

Backgrounds: The purpose of this study was to compare full thickness skin graft with inguinal skin to split thickness skin graft for coverage of the radial forearm free flap donor site. Patients and Methods: 25 patients who was reconstructed with radial forearm free flap for head and neck cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Results: The graft loss rates of full thickness skin graft were less than split thickness skin graft or split thickness skin graft with dermal substitutes. The recovery times of donor site and skin graft donor site of full thickness skin graft were also shorter than split thickness skin graft or split thickness skin graft with dermal substitutes. Skin texture and aesthetic results of donor site were improved and complications as itching and pain sensation were decreased. Conclusion: Full thickness skin grafts with inguinal skin should be considered for patients requiring a radial forearm free flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.248-255
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• 2013

Reconstruction techniques of orofacial defects caused by wide excision of the intraoral malignant lesions are various. Although radial forearm free flap is a common donor site on reconstruction of soft tissue defect, anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap also has an established site in orofacial soft tissue reconstruction as the favored donor flap with recent progress of the microsurgical technique. A 59-year-old female complained of hyperplastic mass on the right retromolar and buccal cheek, which was diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by an incisional biopsy. Before the operation, we planned a wide excision of the SCC lesion, supraomohyoid neck dissection, reconstruction with radial forearm free flap (RFFF), and split thickness skin graft. We accidentally found an arterial variation of the forearm area during elevation of RFFF, and changed the plan of reconstruction operation to reconstruction with ALT free flap. Operative sites was healed well during the post-operative period, and we referred to the department of radiation oncology for post-operative radiotherapy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2003

Introduction : The purpose is a retrospective evaluation of the clinical results of the radial forearm flap transfer for foot reconstruction. Materials and methods : We evaluated 21 cases with medical records including etiology, wound dimension, presence of infection, associated fracture, ischemic time of free flap, complication of donor and recipient site. The final results were evaluated with our clinical score (walking, shoe-in, cosmetic). Results : Defects were located on the heel (12 cases), dorsum of foot (4 cases) and sole (5 cases). Mean wound dimension was $7.56{\times}6.0cm$, and mean ischemic time of free flap was 94.5minute. There were superficial skin necrosis (1 case), recurrent ulceration (2 cases) in recipient site, and no complication in donor site but complaint about cosmetic problem (3 cases). The clinical score showed excellent in 14 cases, good in 4 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 2 cases. Conclusion : We consider the radial forearm flap could provid the stable and durable restoration of normal foot contour without debulking in the foot reconstruction and achieved normal ambulation and cosmetic satisfaction.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.46-49
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• 2002

Background: Free flaps have become a very important role in the ablative head and neck surgery with functional preservation of defect sites. The forearm free flap has many advantage of lack of bulk, ease of dissection, vascularity, and malleability. Patients and Methods: A review of 51 radial forearm free flaps performed between may 1990 and feburary 2001 at the Korea University was undertaken to determine outcome. Patient age ranged 27 to 72 years (mean 56). There were 44 men and 7 women. The most prevalent neoplasm was squamous cell carcinoma. Results: The tans verse cervical artery and the external jugular vein were the most frequent receipient sites for microvascular anastomosis. Total flap loss occurred in 2 cases (4%) and other complications were seen in 42%. Fifteen patients received preoperative irradiation and the complication was higher than non-irradiation patients, but statistically not significant. Conclusion: The radial forearm free flap offers a variety of reconstructive options for head and neck. Its low flap loss and complication rates offer the best choice for reconstruction of defect of head and neck malignancy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.148-152
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• 2014

Background Free flap surgery for head and neck defects has gained popularity as an advanced microvascular surgical technique. The aims of this study are first, to determine whether the known risk factors such as comorbidity, tobacco use, obesity, and radiation increase the complications of a free flap transfer, and second, to identify the incidence of complications in a radial forearm free flap and an anterolateral thigh perforator flap. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients with head and neck cancer who underwent reconstruction with free flap between May 1994 and May 2012 at our department of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Results The patients included 36 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 59.38 years. The most common primary tumor site was the tongue (38%). The most commonly used free flap was the radial forearm free flap (57%), followed by the anterolateral thigh perforator free flap (22%). There was no occurrence of free flap failure. In this study, risk factors of the patients did not increase the occurrence of complications. In addition, no statistically significant differences in complications were observed between the radial forearm free flap and anterolateral thigh perforator free flap. Conclusions We could conclude that the risk factors of the patient did not increase the complications of a free flap transfer. Therefore, the risk factors of patients are no longer a negative factor for a free flap transfer.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.198-204
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• 2001

Background and Objectives: As the laryngopharyngeal cancer is usually found at a advanced stage, it is difficult to get a wide surgical margin that preserves functional aspect and that is oncologically safe simultaneously. There were many operative technique to fulfill this principle, but none were satisfactory. Recently there were some reports about glottic and pharyngeal reconstruction using radial forearm free flap(RFFF) with palmaris longus tendon, which provided satisfactory oncologic and functional results. We attempted to perform this technique and to test usefulness at patients of laterally localized laryngopharyngeal tumor. Materials and Methods: Three patients were reconstructed glottis and pharynx using radial forearm free flap with palmaris longus tendon. Two hypopharyngeal cancer (T2N0M0) patients were performed wide vertical hemilaryngopharyngectomy and one supraglottic cancer(T2N0M0) patient was performed horizontovertical laryngopharyngectomy. Deglutitional function was evaluated with modified barium swallow and speech function was evaluated by speech pathologist. Results: Mean follow-up time was 29.3 months. There were no cancer recurrence. Their speech was satisfy-actory at social communication and oral feeding. They all have a complete oral nutrition from 26 days to 53 days. Decanulation time was from 71 days to 30 months. Conclusion: Glottic and pharyngeal reconstruction with radial forearm free flap could be accepted as a promising technique which offers a wide resection margin but satisfactory functional result in lateralized laryngohypopharyngeal cancer patients.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.80-86
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• 1997

The lateral arm flap was reported first by Song et al. in 1982, and Katsaros and colleagues described an anatomic study and clinical cases in 1984. This flap is thin, has relatively constant vascular anatomy, and provides relatively acceptable scar at the donor site. Despite its many advantages its wide application has been limited by its short vascular pedicle with small diameter of lumen, and its small skin paddle. We studied its anatomical structure to get longer length of vascular pedicle, wide diameter and thinner part of flap beyond the lateral condyle through 6 fresh cadaver dissection and dye injection study. We experienced 21 cases of lateral arm free flaps and 26 cases of forearm free flaps from May, 1992 to January, 1996. We compared its usefulness with forearm free flaps in the aspects of donor morbidity, operative factors, quality of flap, and versatility. In conclusion, lateral arm flap can replace the role of forearm flap in most cases so that patient's donor morbidity can be reduced especially in the women.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.495-503
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• 2018

With significant improvements in success rates for free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, attention has turned to donor site morbidity associated with osteocutaneous free flaps. In this review, we address the morbidity associated with harvest of the four most commonly used osteocutaneous flaps; the free fibula flap, the scapula flap, the iliac crest flap and the radial forearm flap. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify articles relevant to donor site morbidity for these flaps. We assessed morbidity in terms of incidence of delayed healing, chronic pain, aesthetic outcomes, site specific complications and patient satisfaction/quality of life. Weighted means were calculated when sufficient studies were available for review. The radial forearm and free fibula flaps are associated with high rates of delayed healing of approximately 20% compared to the scapular (<10%) and iliac flaps (5%). The radial forearm flap has higher rates of chronic pain (16.7%) and dissatisfaction with scar appearance (33%). For the majority of these patients harvest of one of these four osteocutaneous does not limit daily function at long-term follow-up. The scapular osteocutaneous flap is associated with the lowest relative morbidity and should be strongly considered when the recipient defect allows. The radial forearm is associated with higher morbidity in terms of scarring, fractures, chronic pain and wrist function and should not be considered as first choice when other flap options are available.