• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2019

Background The efficacy of Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus with acute abscess remains unclear. This study aimed to compare outcomes after Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus disease with and without acute abscess. A secondary objective was to perform a review of the literature on the topic. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who underwent excision and Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus from 2009 to 2018. Patient demographics, wound characteristics, and complication rates were reviewed and analyzed. Results Group 1 comprised 19 patients who underwent Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus disease without acute abscess and group 2 comprised four patients who underwent reconstruction for pilonidal sinus disease with acute abscess. The average defect size after excision was larger in group 2 than group 1 ($107.7{\pm}60.3cm^2$ vs. $61.4{\pm}33.8cm^2$, respectively). There were no recurrences, seromas or cases of flap necrosis postoperatively. There was only one revision surgery needed for evacuation of a postoperative hematoma in group 1. There were comparable rates of partial wound dehiscence treated by local wound care, hematoma, need for revision surgery and minor infection between group 1 and group 2. Conclusions Limberg flap reconstruction for pilonidal sinus in the setting of acute abscess is a viable option with outcomes comparable to that for disease without acute abscess. This practice will avoid the pain and cost associated with a prolonged local wound care regimen involved in drainage of the abscess prior to flap reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2008

Purpose: While radiotherapy remains an essential part of the multidisciplinary treatment of cancers, it may cause unwanted consequences such as tissue break down and chronic non-healing wounds as a result of hypoxia, hypovascularity, and hypocellularity. The conservative treatment of osteoradionecrosis was effective only in the early stages or has a limited result. The surgical treatment of osteoradionecrosis includes various local fasciocutaneous flaps, local myocutaneous flaps and different kinds of free flaps with cancellous bone graft or alloplastic material after removal of all devitalized tissue. This study reviews recent cases of osteoradionecrosis in Severance hospital and investigates the use of various flaps for reconstruction of osteoradionecrosis. Methods: From 2000 to 2006, a total of 29 patients, nine men and twenty women with a mean age of 60.4 years were identified and included in the study. Fasciocutaneous flaps were used on 7 patients and myocutaneous flaps were used on the remaining patients. Mean follow-up period was 10.4 months. Results: In the fasciocutaneous flap group, we noted two complications including total flap failure and a partial flap necrosis. In the myocutaneous flap group, four complications were noted including a partial flap necrosis and 3 cases of wound dehiscence. Considering the complications noted in this study, the natural history of progression to flap necrosis appeared to follow the following sequence of events: marginal flap necrosis, infection, wound dehiscence, flap floating and partial flap necrosis, serially. Conclusion: Successful surgical treatment of osteoradionecrosis includes wide radical debridement and reconstruction with a well vascularized flap like myocutaneous flap or fasciocutaneous flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2006

Nipple reconstruction is an important step in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The authors' preferred reconstructive technique is the local C-V flap in case that a small opposite nipple is not adequate for composite graft. This flap produces an excellent reconstruction, but it is not easy to produce an adequate projection and firmness of the nipple. This article describes the technique and experience in nine patients treated over two years with dermis(scar tissue) graft for nipple reconstruction. This is the first report of application of autologous dermis(scar tissue) grafting to reconstruct a nipple primarily after breast mound reconstruction, decreasing the absorption of the reconstructed nipple and increasing the hardness. The dermis(scar tissue) is taken from scar revision and/or dog-ear correction in the second stage operation after free TRAM flap breast reconstruction. And the dermis(scar tissue) graft is inserted vertically between the local flaps and horizontally under the reconstructed nipple base. Between September 2002 and February 2005, nine patients underwent C-V flap with dermis(scar tissue) graft as a part of their nipple reconstruction. The patient's ages ranged from 28 to 55 years old (mean, 41.1 years old). The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 35 months, with an average of 14.5 months. None of the nipples showed skin flap necrosis or local infection, and uneventful wound healing. Our result showed good nipple projection with less absorption and enough firmness. Our experiences shows that dermis(scar tissue) grafts in C-V flap is a very useful method for nipple reconstruction.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 2017

Background: Surgery for reconstruction of defects after surgery should be performed selectively and the many points must be considered. The authors conducted this study to compare the local flap and skin graft by facial location in the reconstruction after resection of facial skin cancer. Methods: The authors performed the study in patients that had received treatment in Department of Plastic Surgery, Gyeongsang National University. The cases were analyzed according to the reconstruction methods for the defects after surgery, sex, age, tumor site, and tumor size. Additionally, the authors compared differences of aesthetic satisfaction (out of 5 points) of patients in the local flap and skin graft by facial location after resection of facial skin cancer by dividing the face into eight areas. Results: A total of 153 cases were confirmed. The most common facial skin cancer was basal cell carcinoma (56.8%, 87 cases), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (37.2%, 57 cases) and bowen's disease (5.8%, 9 cases). The most common reconstruction method was local flap 119 cases (77.7%), followed by skin graft 34 cases (22.3%). 86 patients answered the questionnaire and mean satisfaction of the local flap and skin graft were 4.3 and 3.5 (p=0.04), respectively, indicating that satisfaction of local flap was significantly high. Conclusion: When comparing satisfaction of patients according to results, local flap shows excellent effects in functional and cosmetic aspects would be able to provide excellent results rather than using a skin graft with poor touch and tone compared to the surrounding normal skin.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.724-728
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• 2022

Various flaps are used to reconstruct skin and soft tissue defects of the vulva following resection of malignancies. Whenever possible, reconstruction using local flaps is the standard treatment. Here, we describe vulvar defect reconstruction using keystone flaps. Standard keystone flaps are based on randomly located vascular perforators. However, we designed a keystone flap that includes perforators of three named arteries (the anterior labial artery of the external pudendal artery, cutaneous branches of the obturator artery, and posterior labial artery of the internal pudendal artery) and the pudendal nerve, which accompanies the internal pudendal artery. Four patients with squamous cell carcinoma and extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva underwent radical vulvectomy and keystone flaps including perforators of three arteries. Depending on the morphology of the defects, keystone flaps were used with different designs. For elliptical and unilateral vulvar defects, a standard keystone flap was designed, and for defects on both sides of the vulva, a double opposing keystone flap was used. For oval defects, the omega variant keystone flap was designed, and when the morphology of the defect needed rotation of the flap, a rotational keystone flap was designed. All the patients showed good function and sensation, with an acceptable cosmetic appearance.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2021

Background Soft tissue coverage plays a vital role in replacing the vascularity of the underlying bone in Gustilo type IIIB fractures. The aim of this article was to evaluate the feasibility of local pedicled flaps in type IIIB fractures at a tertiary care center. Methods We included all cases of open Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB fractures of the tibia treated with local flap coverage from January 2017 to February 2019. We carried out a retrospective analysis to investigate the relationships of complications, hospital stay, and cost-effectiveness with the choice of flap, infective foci, site and size of the defect, and type of fixation. Results Out of 138 Gustilo type IIIB fractures analyzed in our study, 27 cases had complications, of which 19 (13.76%) involved flap necrosis, four (2.89%) were infections, three (2.17%) involved partial necrosis, and one (0.72%) was related to bone spur development. Flap complications showed a statistically significant association with the perforator flap category (propeller flaps in particular) (P=0.001). Flap necrosis showed a significant positive correlation with cases treated within 3 weeks after trauma (P=0.046). A significant positive correlation was also found between defect size and the duration of hospital stay (P=0.03). Conclusions Although local flaps are harvested from the same leg that underwent trauma, their success rate is at least as high as microvascular flaps as reported from other centers. Amidst the local flaps, complications were predominantly associated with perforator flaps.

• 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 Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2013

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. About 74% cases of basal cell cancer occur on the head and neck. Basal cell carcinoma on the face may have a higher degree of subclinical spread than tumors arising elsewhere. And incompletely excised BCCs become more aggressive when they recur. So the surgical removal and reconstruction of BCC located on the face are important to make perfect curing and cosmetic results. Methods: A retrospective study was done with 128 patients (137 cancers) who were treated with BCC on the face since 1987 to 2011. General data of these cases such as the primary site of cancer, age and sex of the patients, operative methods, and recurrence rate were reviewed. Results: The ratio of men to women was 1:1.4. And 86.9% of the patients with BCC were older than the age of 50 years with the mean age of 65.8 years. The distribution of facial basal cell carcinoma was on the nose, eyelids, cheek, and nasolabial fold. Surgical methods for treatment were local flap, full thickness skin graft, primary closure, and split thickness skin graft. Specifically, local flap consists of V-Y advancement flap, cheek advancement flap, limberg flap, forehead flap, nasolabial flap, rotation flap, transposition flap, bilobed flap, and island flap. Six cases recurred and all of them were treated with reoperation. Conclusion: The authors reviewed facial basal cell carcinoma cases in our hospital. This study might be helpful to choose appropriate operation method to manage BCC on face in Korea.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.565-570
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• 2009

Purpose: Numerous techniques have been introduced to reconstruct the perineal area in order to preserve function of both the recipient and the donor site while satisfying aesthetic results. There are several advantages of using the pudendal aretery perforator based flap in that it provides thin coverage of defect area and a relatively excellent circulation through perforators. The perineal region can be divided into two areas : the urogenital triangle and the anal triangle. Since each area differs in structure and function so does its reconstructive plan. The authors of this article report clinical results obtained from pudendal artery perforator based reconstructed cases according to each differrent triangles. Methods: A total of 15 patients who underwent perineal reconstruction were enrolled in our study between the year 2002 and 2006. There were 4 cases of vaginal cancer, 4 cases of extramammary Paget's disease, 1 case of rectovaginal fistula in females and 2 cases of Paget's disease and 4 cases of Fournier's gangrene in male cases. The follow up period was on average 6 month. In female, superfical pudendal artery perforator based local flap were used to reconstruct the urogenital triangle defects, while internal pudendal artery perfoator based local flaps were used to reconstruct the anal traingle defects. In males the gracilis myocutaneous flap and internal pudendal artery perforator based local flaps were used in reconstruction of the scrotum and perineal defect. Result: In females, there was 1 case of partial flap necorsis that employed the superficial pudendal artery perforator but secondary repair through the internal pudendal artery perforator based local flap was done. In addition, there were 4 wound dehiscence cases in females and 2 cases in males. Conclusion: We believe that a better aesthetic and functional outcome can be achieved in perineal reconstruction if discrete surgical planning is carried out systematically categorizing the choice of flap employed acccording to distinct anatomical regions : the urogenital and the anal triangle.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.376-383
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• 2012

Background No consensus has been reached regarding the outcome of management of local recurrence after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. This study demonstrated the presentation, management, and outcomes of local recurrence after immediate TRAM breast reconstruction. Methods A comparison was conducted among 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with a pedicled TRAM flap (TRAM group) and 3,183 consecutive patients who underwent only modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction (MRM group) from January 2001 to December 2009. The presentation, treatment, and outcome including aesthetics and overall survival rate were analyzed. Results Local recurrences occurred in 18 (1.8%) patients (TRAM-LR group) who underwent TRAM breast reconstruction and 38 (1.2%) patients (MRM-LR group) who underwent MRM only (P=0.1712). Wide excision was indicated in almost all the local recurrence cases. Skin graft was required in 4 patients in the MRM-LR group, whereas only one patient required a skin graft to preserve the mound shape in the TRAM-LR group. The breast mound was maintained in all 17 patients that survived in the TRAM-LR group even after wide excision. The overall survival rate was 94.4% in the TRAM-LR group and 65.8% in the MRM-LR group (P=0.276). Conclusions Local recurrence after immediate TRAM flap breast reconstruction could be detected without delay and managed effectively by multiple modalities without reducing overall survival rates. Breast mound reconstruction with soft autologous tissue allowed for primary closure in most of the cases. In all of the patients who survived, the contour of their reconstructed breast remained.