• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.68-79
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• 2010

Lower abdominal tissue is regarded as an ideal donor site for the breast reconstruction because it provides large skin territory and huge amount of soft tissues enough to the breast size. However it is not easy for the surgeon to reconstruct the really natural breast, and needs the learning curve with long time experience. Author represent the various reconstruction procedures for the breast using lower abdominal tissue such as muscle sparing free TRAM, DIEP, and SIEA free flaps to reinsure like breast. Indications, and selection of reconstructive methods, surgical timing, selection of donor sites and recipient vessel of these flaps were reviewed. In addition, detailed procedures, surgical tips and secondary adjuvant procedures are described for more symmetry of reconstructed breast. The muscle sparing free TRAM, DIEP, and SIEA free flaps would be enough to provide supple, huge amount of well vascularized tissue for the breast, if these flaps were selected for the appropriate indication according to patient's general condition, obesity, the opposite breast and abdominal tissue condition. Lower abdominal tissue was able to provide versatile designs with sufficient adipose tissue without compromising the integrity of abdominal wall.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.315-324
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• 2023

Hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease (SCD) are traditionally considered a relative contraindication to free tissue transfer, due to concerns that erythrocyte sickling will increase the risk of microvascular thrombosis and flap failure. This article describes a case report with the successful use of free tissue transfer in a patient with SCD and provides a systematic literature review on free tissue transfer in SCD. A retrospective chart review was performed of a patient with SCD who underwent free tissue transfer at the authors' institution. A systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed using the keywords "free tissue transfer," "free flap," or "microsurgery" and "sickle cell" on PubMed, Ovid/Medline, and Scopus. A 29-year-old male with delayed presentation of an electrical burn to the face and scalp underwent wound closure with a free anterolateral thigh flap. Key management principles included red blood cell transfusion to keep hemoglobin S under 30% and hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL, maintenance of hydration, normothermia, adequate analgesia, and postoperative anticoagulation. Systematic literature review identified 7 articles describing 13 cases of free tissue transfer in 10 patients with SCD, with combined complete free flap success in 10 of the 13 flaps. Free tissue transfer can be successfully performed in patients with SCD. However, evidence on the optimal management of this unique patient population in the perioperative period after free tissue transfer is limited to case reports in the literature.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2001

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious complication which result from long-standing diabetes. Especially, severe infected diabetic foot ulcer results in unwanted lower extremity amputation. The diabetic patient is considered the relative contraindication for microsurgery because of the severe peripheral vascular disease. Recently, microvascular free tissue transfer technique applied to diabetic foot ulcer. It is well known that free tissue transfer provides immediate soft tissue coverage and control of infection. So it is possible that preservation of the lower extremity through free tissue transfer. A retrospective study of diabetic patients who had infected foot ulcer from 1999 to 2000 with foot defects reconstructed with free tissue transfer were reviewed. Thirteen patients were studied with mean follow-up of 12.7 months. There were two deaths during follow-up period. There were two failures after free flap surgery. All eleven survived patients were ambulatory. There was no recurrence of ulcer. No patient need amputation above the ankle joint. We have found that free tissue transfer for infected diabetic foot ulcer is very effective surgical technique. Careful patient selection and regular follow-up is important.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2008

Purpose: Evaluation of results of free flap as a method of reconstruction in soft tissue defect after wide excision of soft tissue tumor of extremity. Materials and Methods: From 2000 through 2007, 11 patients received free flap surgery for soft tissue defect after wide excision operation for soft tissue tumor of limbs. Four cases were upper extremities and seven were lower extremities. Four subjects were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, three as malignant melanoma, two as synovial sarcoma and one as malignant fibrous histiocytoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma. Donor sites of free flap varied with anterolateral thigh flaps in six cases, latissimus dorsi flaps in four, reverse forearm flap in one. By the method of doppler ultrasound, venous circulation was evaluated for the survival of each flap on the third, fifth and seventh day respectively after the operation. Results: 10 of 11 free flaps were successfully survived. Necrosis of free flaps in 1 cases occurred in case of anterolateral thigh flap. Conclusion: Free flap can be a useful method for reconstruction of soft tissue defect after wide excision of soft tissue sarcoma of extremity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.289-293
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• 2006

By means of microsurgical free-tissue transfer providing a large amount of required tissue, the surgeon can resect tumoral tissue more safely, which allows tumor-free margins and enhances the reliability of the ablative surgery that otherwise could not be performed radically. The morbidity of elective free-tissue transfer seems to be quite low, carrying acceptable risks for most patients. But the elderly patients are at risk for cardiac and respiratory problems, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli and infection merely as a function of age. This study was undertaken to define further risks of the elderly population with regards to free-tissue transfer. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 110 microsurgical free-tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction in patients greater than 60 years of age. Microsurgical procedures in all cases were preformed by the plastic and reconstructive department at Yonsei medical center. The investigated parameters were patient demographics, past medical history, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) status, site and cause of defect, the free tissue transferred and postoperative complication including free-flap success or failure. There were 46 patients in the age group from 60 to 64 years, 34 patients from 65 to 70 years, and 30 patients 70 years or older. There happened 3 flap losses, resulting in a flap viability rate of 97%. Patients with a higher ASA designation experienced more medical complication(p=0.05, 0.01, 0.03 in each age group I, II, III) but not surgical complication p=0.17, 0.11, 0.54 in each age group I, II, III). And the relationship between postoperative complication and age groups was not significant. These observations suggest that major determinant for postoperative medical complication be the patient's American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and chronologic age alone should not be an exclusion criterion when selecting patients for free-tissue transfer

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2018

Intervertebral disc(IVD) mainly consists of Annulus fibrosus(AF) and Nucleus pulposus(NP), playing a role of distributing a mechanical load on vertebral body. IVD tissue engineering has been developed the methods to achieve anatomic morphology and restoration of biological function. The goal of present study is to identify the possibilities for creating a substitute of IVD the morphology and biological functions are the same as undamaged complete IVD. To fabricate the AF and NP combine biphasic IVD tissue, AF tissue scaffolds have been printed by 3D bio-printing system with natural biomaterials and NP tissues have been prepared by scaffold-free culture system. We evaluated whether the combined structure of 3D printed AF scaffold and scaffold-free NP tissue construct could support the architecture and cell functions as IVD tissue. 3D printed AF scaffolds were printed with 60 degree angle stripe patterned lamella structure(the inner-diameter is 5mm, outer-diameter is 10 mm and height is 3 mm). In the cytotoxicity test, the 3D printed AF scaffold showed good cell compatibility. The results of histological and immunohistochemical staining also showed the newly synthesized collagens and glycosaminoglycans, which are specific makers of AF tissue. And scaffold-free NP tissue actively synthesized glycosaminoglycans and type 2 collagen, which are the major components of NP tissue. When we combined two engineered tissues to realize the IVD, combined biphasic tissues showed a good integration between the two tissues. In conclusion, this study describes the fabrication of Engineered biphasic IVD tissue by using enable techniques of tissue engineering. This fabricated biphasic tissue would be used as a model system for the study of the native IVD tissue. In the future, it may have the potential to replace the damaged IVD in the future.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2015

Purpose: The rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (RAM) flap has contributed to the efficient reconstruction of soft tissue defects. The flap has the advantage of easy dissection, minimal donor site morbidity, and the constant vascular anatomy with long pedicle. Authors used the free RAM flap to reconstruct multi-located soft tissue defects while still considering functionality and aesthetics. We present the long-term outcomes and versatility of free RAM flaps. Materials and Methods: From 1994 to 2004, all patients who underwent soft tissue reconstruction with free RAM flap were reviewed retrospectively. The site of the reconstruction, vessels of anastomosis, type of RAM flap, and outcomes, including flap success rate, hospital stay after flap transfer, conduction of secondary procedure, flap complications, and donor-site complications were analyzed. Results: Twenty-one patients underwent 24 free RAM flaps in site of breast, face, upper extremity and lower extremity. Mean follow-up period was 36.1 months (range, 3~156 months). The overall success rate was 92% with only a loss of 2 flaps. Minor complications related to transferred flaps were necrosis of 2 partial flaps, hematoma formation in 3 cases, and a wound infection in 1 case. Donor site morbidity was not observed. Debulking surgery was performed in 4 patients, and scar revision was performed in 3 patients. Conclusion: Free RAM flap is a workhorse flap for general soft-tissue reconstruction with minimal donor site morbidity with aesthetically good results. Thus, the free RAM flaps are versatile, and sturdy for any sites of soft-tissue where reconstruction could be performed.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2000

Acute high speed accidents that results in full thickness skin defect and exposure of tendon, nerve, vessel and periosteum over denuded bone demands soft tissue coverage. Exposed bone often ensues chronic infection and requires free flap transplantation which surely covers defects in one stage operation and enhances transport of oxygen-rich blood and converts a non-osteogenic or partially osteogenic site into a highly osteogenic site, but exposed bone which had performed free flap transplantation sometimes necroses and needs secondary bone procedure. Scar contracture limits joint motion should be excised and covered with normal soft tissue to restore normal range of motion. Authors have performed the large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap in 8 cases of extensive soft tissue defect and exposed bone lesion in the leg and 1 case of the flap was failed. The secondary ilizarov bone procedure was performed in 3 of 8 cases. 2 cases of large burn scar contracture and 1 case of posttraumatic scar contracture in lower extremity were restored with the large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap. Authors concluded that large latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap is the most acceptable microvascular procedure in large soft tissue defect combined with exposed periosteum and bone requiring secondary bone procedure and in large burn scar contracture limiting knee joint motion.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Purpose: Recent studies have reported on application of fibrin glue composed of fibrinogen and thrombin to nerve anastomosis, which can be another candidate for vessel anastomosis. However, no research regarding the risk and effectiveness of thrombin in microvascular free tissue transfer has been reported. Therefore, the aim of study is to determine the risk and effectiveness of thrombin on microvascular free tissue transfer through clinical cases. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent free flap reconstruction for soft tissue defect or bone exposure in our institute from March 2011 to February 2014. In the group using thrombin, dissolved powder thrombin (5,000 IU/amp) was mixed with 10 mL normal saline. Saline mixed with thrombin was applied on the flap, recipient, and around vessel anastomosis. In the control group, free flap was performed using the same method, except using thrombin. We analyzed the results between the two groups. Results: All flaps survived. The group using thrombin included 14 patients and the control group included 11 patients. Hematoma was found in two cases, respectively, in each group. The group using thrombin showed lower incidence of hematoma than the control group. No difference in survival rate of the flap was observed between the thrombin group and the control group. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that use of saline mixed with thrombin in free tissue transfer may be safe and effective for prevention of hematoma formation in the recipient site.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of anterolateral thigh free flap on soft tissue defect following wide excision in malignant soft tissue tumor of lower extremities. Methods: Between February 2005 to April 2010, we followed up 19 cases who were undergoing anterolateral thigh free flap because of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity, including 9 cases were heel, 5 cases in foot, 3 cases in ankle, 2 cases in knee and leg. We observed that of implanted area's color, peripheral circulation at 3, 5, 7 days after operation and evaluated operating time, amount of hemorrhage, implanted skin necrosis, additional operations, complications. And we also evaluated the oncologic results, including local recurrence, metastasis, and morbidity. Results: Average operation time of wide excision and anterolateral thigh free flap was 7 hour 28 minutes. 18(94.7%) of total 19 cases showed successful engraftment, on the other hand, failure of engraftment due to complete necrosis of flap in 1 case. In 18 cases with successful engraftment, reoperation was performed in 4 cases. Among them, removal of hematoma and engraftment of flap after bleeding control was performed in 3 cases, because of insufficient circulation due to the hematoma. In the remaining 1 case, graft necrosis due to flap infection was checked, and grafted after combination of wound debridement and conservative treatment such as antibiotics therapy, also skin graft was performed at debrided skin defect area. Skin color change was mainly due to congestion with hematoma, flap was not observed global congestion or necrosis except 4 cases which shows partial necrosis on margin that treated with conservative therapy. Conclusions: Anterolateral thigh free flap could be recommended for reconstruction of soft tissue defect following wide excision of malignant soft tissue tumor in lower extremity.