• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2010

Purpose: The radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap is currently considered as the ideal free flap for reconstruction of mucosal and soft tissue defects of the palate. But the availability of stably attached oral and nasal mucosal lining is needed. In addition to this, for better operation field, operating convenience and esthetics, we planned a prelaminated radial forearm free flap. Methods: A 64-year-old male patient was admitted due to a $4{\times}4.5cm$ full through defect in the middle of the hard palate caused by peripheral T cell lymphoma with actinomycosis. In the first stage, the radial forearm flap was elevated, tailored to fit the hard palate defect, and then it positioned up-side down with split thickness skin graft. Two weeks later, the prelaminated radial forearm free flap was re-elevated and transferred to the palatal defect. One side covered with grafted skin was used to line the nasal cavity, and the other side (the cutaneous portion of the radial forearm flap) was used to line the oral cavity. Results: The prelamination procedure was relatively easy and useful. The skin graft was well taken to the flap. After 2nd stage operation, the flap survived uneventfully. There was no prolapse of the inset flap into the oral cavity and the cutaneous portion of the flap was mucosalized. The procedure was very successful and the patient can enjoy normal rigid diet and speech. Conclusion: The use of prelaminated radial forearm free flap for hard palate reconstruction is an excellent method to restore oral function. Based upon the result of this case, microvascular free flap transfer with prelaminated procedure is a valid alternative to the prosthetic obturator for palatal defect that provides an improved quality of life. It should be considered as an integral component of head and neck cancer therapy and rehabilitation.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.615-622
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• 2014

Oral cancer ablation surgery results in tissue defects with functional loss. Accompanying neck dissection results in facial nerve weakness and dysmorphic changes. To minimize the complications after oral cancer surgery, accurate dissection without damaging facial nerve and vital structures are mandatory. Marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve should be dissected or contained in the superficial layer of deep cervical fascia to minimized facial palsy after operation. Reconstruction after cancer ablations is routine procedures and free flap reconstruction is the most commonly used. Radial forearm free flap is the most versatile flap to reconstruct soft tissue defects and it is easy to design according to the defect size and shape. However, donor site scar and secondary skin graft from thigh result in unesthetic and cumbersome wounds. Double layered collagen graft in the donor site could reduce secondary donor site for skin graft. In conclusion, oral and maxillofacial surgeon should know the exact anatomy of the face and neck during neck dissection. Radial forearm free flap is most versatile flap for soft tissue reconstruction and double collagen graft can reduce postoperative scar and there is no need for secondary skin graft.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2011

Purpose: Many advances have been made in lower eyelid reconstruction surgical procedures after tumor ablative therapy. These include skin grafts, local flaps, free flaps, and skin expansion. When a full-thickness defect of the lower eyelid is reconstructed with many free flaps, ectropion and deformity of the medial and lateral canthal areas are common late complications caused by gravitational descent. The radial forearm free flap is widely used because of its lack of bulk, ease of dissection, malleability, and hairlessness. This report introduces a novel method for preventing ectropion using a composite radial forearm free flap reconstruction and palmaris longus suspension technique. Methods: A 70-year-old man had a malignant melanoma on his left lower eyelid. The patient was referred to our department after a biopsy confirmed the initial diagnosis. A full-thickness wide resection with a 25 mm free margin was performed, and a $5{\times}8cm$ radial forearm flap was elevated with a vascularised palmaris longus tendon. The palmaris longus tendon was fixed to the medial and lateral orbital rim perisoteum and the deep temporal fascia. The buccal mucosa was grafted to reconstruct the inner conjunctival layer. The pedicle vessels were anastomosed to the left superficial temporal artery and vein. Results: The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. The flap showed good texture and color match. No ectropion was noted 14 months after surgery and the tumor did not recur. The patient was quite satisfied with the final outcomes. Conclusion: Use of a radial forearm free flap and the palmaris longus tendon is an effective method for a full-thickness lower eyelid reconstruction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in sympathetic nervous system responses of healthy adult women with changes in stimulus intensity of high frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (women) received high frequency electrical stimulation of the forearm. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups; a low intensity stimulation group (n=12) and a high intensity stimulation group (n=12). The electrode attachment was arranged on the forearm of the dominant arm and the electricity stimulus time was 20 minutes. Measured items included skin conductance, pulse rate, skin temperature, and respiration rate. Each was measured at 4 times. Results: Skin conductance and skin temperature showed significant group by time interactions, though there were no significant group and time effects. There were no significant differences according to time, group effect, and a group by time interaction in pulse and respiration rates. Conclusion: High frequency and high intensity electrical stimulation may be helpful for the improvement of sudomotor function through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Also, high frequency and low intensity electrical stimulation may be helpful for the reduction of sudomotor function via inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2000

With esthetic concern in the reconstruction of skin and soft tissue defects of face, the use of local flap has been the method of choice. However, when there is extensive tissue loss in the face, local flaps do not provide satisfactory results. The amazing development of microsurgical technique has decreased the percentage of free flap failure, thus making free flap use in reconstruction of facial soft tissue defects. Many free flaps has been applied for reconstruction of face defects. Especially, the radial forearm flap has numerous advantages with which facial reconstruction is made possible. But, its disadvantages are ; the sacrifice of one major artery supplying the hand and donor site complications. In order to circumvent these disadvantages, we employed posterior interosseous artery(PIA) forearm free flap for the reconstruction of the face defects. The posterior interosseous forearm island flap was first described by Zancolli and Angrigiani(1985). Currently, the PIA island flap and free flap have been used for hand reconstructions. The disadvantages of the PIA flap are ; the small caliber of the pedicle, different locations of the perforating branches, and the proximity of the motor branch of the radial nerve. But, its advantages lies in preserving the major artery of the hand, minimal donor site morbidity, and fairly well matched skin texture and color, and that the flap volume is sufficient, not too bulky with convenient handling. By using this flap, we performed 1 case of tumor resection and 1 case of traumatic defect. From our experiences we conclude that it is one of many useful methods in the reconstruction of the skin and soft tissue defects of the face. We also have discussed advantages and some limitations of various free flaps for reconstruction of the face.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.646-650
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• 2021

Head and neck reconstruction poses unique challenges in rehabilitating surgical defects in terms of integrity, function, and form. The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has been widely used for defect coverage, especially in the head and neck area, but its versatility allows it to be used for soft-tissue reconstruction in various parts of the body. The vascular features of the flap are quite constant and reliable. Nevertheless, abnormalities of the forearm vascular tree have been described over the decades. We report a case of intraoral reconstruction after verrucous carcinoma recurrence in a 74-year-old woman with an unusual forearm flap, which we called the median forearm free flap, based on a median branch of the radial artery that was preoperatively detected using handheld Doppler ultrasonography. The distally located skin paddle was predominantly supplied by the aberrant median vessel with its perforators. The flap was thus safely harvested with this atypical pedicle. Successful reconstruction of the intraoral defect was achieved, with an uneventful postoperative course.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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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 Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2002

As the defects of the penis caused by trauma, surgical amputation, or congenital abnormality give the patients both psychological trauma and functional impairment, reconstruction of the penis is mandatory. Radial forearm free flap is reliable one-stage procedure, which can reconstruct both the phallus and the urethra. Chang and Whang's adaptation of the "tube-in-a-tube" concept and its incorporation into a free flap design represented a major advance in microsurgical phallic construction. Biemer described a modification of the radial forearm flap design in which the neourethra was centered over the radial artery, but the phallic shaft was separated into two paraurethral swatches. The authors have performed one-stage penile reconstruction in two patients since 1998, using a radial forearm free flap. Our present design incorporates the original Biemer triple skin island and includes a fourth distal island for neoglans. One case was the amputation of the penis from felonious assault and the other case was the iatrogenic penile amputation from repetitive urologic surgery for congenital hypospadia. All patients showed aesthetically acceptable results and good tactile sensory recovery. Severe complications such as necrosis, fistula, or urethral stricture were not occurred. Biemer's method modified by the authors is reliable one-stage penile reconstruction providing good aesthetic and functional results.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2009

Background In contrast to defects of the mandible and mouth floor region, in the defect of maxilla, the availability of firmly attached oral and nasal mucosal linings is needed. In addition to it, in consider of operation field, operating convenience, and esthetics, reconstruction using prelaminated flap is strongly recommended. Therefore we consider the prelaminated flap through the cases that is reconstructed using prelaminated forearm flap and prelaminated scapular flap. Patients and Methods From 2001 to 2008, in OMFS SNUDH, there were 6 cases that had reconstruction using prelaminated forearm free flap and other 3 cases that had reconstruction using prelaminated scapular flap of maxilla. The average age of patients that were reconstructed using prelaminated forearm free flap was 47.5 years, the average prelaminated period (after $1^{st}$ operation ${\sim}$ until $2^{nd}$ operation) was 51.8 days and the average follow-up period after $2^{nd}$ operation was 35.3 months. As well, the average age of patients that were reconstructed using prelaminated scapular free flap was 37 years, the average prelaminated period (after $1^{st}$ operation ${\sim}$ until $2^{nd}$ operation) was 57 days and the average follow-up period after $2^{nd}$ operation was 42.3 months. Results Except 1 case that were reconstructed using prelaminated scapular flap, we could get firmly attached oral and nasal stable skin(mucosal like) lining, more adequate thickness flap than any other flap and improved esthetic and functional results in the other 8 cases that were reconstructed using prelaminated flap. The complications of the prelaminated forearm flap cases were inconvenient swallowing, sputum, limitation of mouth opening and difficult mastication. It came from flap shrinkage of the flap in some aspect, as well as other combined operations such as mass resection or RND. The difficult point of the reconstruction of prelaminated scapular flap was the possibility of vascular damage at preparation of flap in $2^{nd}$ surgery. The damage could cause the failure of the prelaminated scapular flap. And the skin-lining of the prelaminated flap had limitations, so it is needed to study about the cultured oral epithelium-lining flap instead of the skin-lining flap. Conclusion We considered about advantages, complications and notable things of prelaminated flap through maxillary reconstruction cases using prelaminated forearm flap and prelaminated scapular flap so far. Furthermore, we should go on studying for functional reconstruction of prelaminated fasciomucosal flap using cultured oral epithelium.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2023

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) has become popular for head and neck reconstructions. Owing to a constant anatomy the RFFF is relatively easy to dissect. Nevertheless, anatomical variations of the radial artery have been reported. Some variations could affect the survival of the flap. This paper reports an unusual anomaly of the radial artery where the radial artery was not located between the brachioradialis (BR) and flexor carpi radialis. The radial artery was observed above the BR and on the radial side of the BR. The survival of the elevated flap was deemed questionable because it had only few perforators. So we decided to discard the flap and to elevate another free flap for the head and neck defect. The donor area on the forearm was covered using the original skin of the first flap as a full-thickness skin graft. This case highlights a means to deal with anomalies of the radial artery encountered during the elevation of RFFF and the checking process for variations of the radial artery before RFFF.