• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.748-752
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• 2006

Purpose:Circular skin lesions between 10 and 35 mm in diameter generate problems often. Direct closure of the lesion risks excessive wound tension or wound dehiscence. Skin grafts heal slowly and often remain unsightly. Traditional skin flaps have a limited role. We treated this circular medium-sized skin lesion(10 - 35 mm sized) by reducing opposed multilobed(ROM) flap. Methods: ROM flap involves a series of semicircular lobes extending both cephalic and caudal from the defect. Direction of the semicircular multilobed flap is set parallel to relaxed skin tension line(RSTL) to minimize scar formation. First semicircle is drawn 60% in diameter of the defect. Second semicircles are drawn at the cephalic and caudal aspects of the original semicircles. These semicircles are 60% in diameter of the first semicircle. Additional semicircles are repeatedly drawn until the tension of skin flaps becomes free. ROM flap has a length-to-base ratio of 0.5 resulting in lower theoretical risk of end flap necrosis than a random pattern flap with a large ratio. The technique involves lobes most distant from the primary defect being transposed in turn closer to the defect. Results: The ROM flap reduces skin tension concerns, lowers the risk of flap necrosis and allows for quicker and more aesthetic healing. Results were generally good and major complications, such as dehiscence, infection, or delayed healing, did not occur. Conclusion: ROM flap repair allows the plastic surgeon an additional option when faced with a circular medium-sized skin lesion.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Purpose : Plantar surfaces, calcaneal area, and region of Achilles insertion, which are extremely related with weight-bearing area and shoes application, must be reconstructed with glabrous and strong fibrous skin. Numerous methods of reconstructing defects of these regions have been advocated, but the transfer of similar local tissue as a cutaneous flap with preservation of sensory potential would best serve the functional needs of the weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing surfaces of this region. Therefore it is recommended to use the limited skin of medial surface of foot that is similar to plantar region and non-weight-bearing area. In this paper we performed the medial plantar flap transfered as a fasciocutaneous island as one alterative for moderate-sized defects of the plantar forefoot, plantar heel, and area around the ankle in 25 cases and report the result, availability and problem of medial plantar flap. Materials and methods : We performed proximally based medial plantar flap in 22 cases and reverse flow island flap in 3 cases. Average age was $36.5(4{\sim}70)$ years and female was 3 cases. The causes of soft tissue defect were crushing injury on foot 4 cases, small bony exposure at lower leg 1 case, posterior heel defect with exposure of calcaneus 8 cases, severe sore at heel 2 cases, skin necrosis after trauma on posterior foot 4 cases, and defect on insertion area of Achilles tendon 6cases. Average follow up duration was 1.8(7 months-9.5 years) years. Results: Medial plantar flaps was successful in 22 patients. 18 patients preserved cutaneous branches of medial plantar nerve had sensation on transfered flap but diminished sensation or dysesthesia. At the follow up, we found there were no skin ulceration, recurrence of defect or skin breakdown in all 18 patients. But there was one case which occurred skin ulceration postoperatively among another 4 cases not contained medial plantar nerve. At the last follow up, all patients complained diminished sensation and paresthesia at medial plantar area distally to donor site, expecially with 4 patients having severe pain and discomfort during long-time walking. Conclusion : Medial plantar island flap based on medial plantar neurovascualr pedicle have low failure rate with strong fibrous skin and preserve sensibility of flap, so that it is useful method to reconstruct the skin and soft tissue defect of foot. But it should be emphasized that there are some complications such like pain and paresthesia by neuropraxia or injury of medial plantar nerve at more distal area than donor site. We may consider that medial plantar flap have limited flap size and small arc of rotation, and require skin graft closure of the donor defect and must chose this flap deliberately.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.541-545
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• 2006

Purpose: There are many methods for the reconstruction of the facial defect after an excision of a skin cancer; such as skin graft, local flap, free flap, etc... Skin graft has its' limitations; it could remain in different color with in regards of the recipient to donor, with an unfavorable scar. Free flap can lead to big donor site morbidity with long operation time and uncontrolled scar as a disadvantage factor. Compared to the prior, local flap offers several merits; sufficient blood supply, good tissue quality and short operation time. We revised 'V-Y-S flap' for the facial defect, which proved to have favorable outcomes. Methods: Total 7 V-Y-S flaps were performed to patients with skin cancers(six squamous cell carcinoma and one basal cell carcinoma). Two of these flaps were combined with composite grafts, one with full thickness skin graft. Six patients were female and one male. The average diameter of defects after excision was 2.3 cm. The follow-up period was 18 months maximally. Results: We treated seven facial skin cancers with 'V-Y-S flap'. There were no flap necrosis, cancer recurrence and scar contracture as a result. Furthermore, this method also offers a favorable central scar line that is parallel to the nasolabial fold and the nasojugal groove, especially in the nasolabial area and superomedial side of the cheek. With this method, we could cover a maximum diameter of 4cm facial defect. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is suggested that V-Y-S flap is a useful method to cover facial defects after the excision of a skin cancer.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2008

Purpose: For facial reconstruction, skin color match is crucial to achieve great aesthetic result. Forehead flap and full thickness skin graft have been used for many years to reconstruct facial defect. Their results are aesthetically valuable with remarkable resemblance and harmony of the skin color between donor and recipient sites. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the aesthetic outcome of the two methods as the analysis of skin color match. Methods: From January 1995 to December 2005, ten forehead flaps and ten full thickness skin grafts were performed. The reconstructed areas of forehead flaps were five noses and five eyelids. Recipient sites of full thickness skin grafts were seven eyelids, two noses and one forehead. In order to obtain the objective validity, the skin color of flap(or graft) and the recipient sites were measured by chromameter. The skin colors were quantified according to a three-dimensional coordinate system used in chromameter, L*(brightness), a*(redness), and b*(yellowness).Results: There was no significant color difference between forehead flap site and adjacent skin in all color values. On the other hand, the L* and b* values of graft sites were significantly lower than those of the adjacent skins. The a* values of graft sites were higher than those of the adjacent skins. Conclusion: This study reveals that skin color match of forehead flap is greater than that of full thickness skin graft. As forehead flap has adequate volume and great color match, it can be useful to reconstruct deep facial defect such as nasal defect. On the other hand, full thickness skin graft can be used for superficial defect like partial eyelid defect.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.427-431
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe a simple, convenient, and reliable new technique using local full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) for skin coverage of a donor-site defect of the radial forearm free flap (RFFF). Patients and Methods: Between April 2016 and April 2021, five patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma underwent mass resection combined with RFFF reconstruction. After RFFF harvesting, donor-site defects were restored by proportional local FTSG. Results: The donor-site defects ranged in size from 24 to 41.25 cm², with a mean of 33.05 cm². Good or acceptable esthetic outcomes were obtained in all five patients. There was no dehiscence, skin necrosis, wound infection, or severe scarring at the graft site through the end of the postoperative follow-up period, and no patient had any specific functional complaint. Conclusion: The proportional local FTSG showed promising results for skin coverage of the donor-site defect of the RFFF. This technique could decrease the need for skin grafts from other sites.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.674-677
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• 2009

Purpose: Typical cross finger flap is still a good method for reconstruction of fingertip injuries. However, it is necessarily followed by great loss and aesthetically unpreferable result of donor finger. Hereby, we introduce a modification of cross finger flap with reduction pulp plasty and full thickness skin graft, with which we could reduce the defect size of injured fingertip and donor site morbidity at the same time, without any need for harvesting additional skin from other part of hand. Method: This method was performed in the patients with fingertip injuries of complete amputation or in case of loss of fingertip due to necrosis after replantation. Firstly, reduction pulp plasty was performed on the injured finger to reduce the size of defect of fingertip. Additional skin flap was obtained from the pulp plasty. Secondly, cross finger flap was elevated from the adjacent finger to cover the defect on the injured finger. At the same time, defect on the donor finger produced by the flap elevation was covered by full thickness skin graft with the skin obtained from the pulp plasty of injured finger. Results: Flap and graft survived without any necrosis after surgical delay and flap detachment. All of them were healed well and did not present any severe adversary symptoms. Conclusion: Cross finger flap with reduction pulp plasty and full thickness skin graft is an effective method that we can easily apply in reconstruction of fingertip injury. We think that it is more helpful than the usual manner, especially in cases of children with less soft tissue on their fingers for preservation and reduction of the morbidity of donor finger.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

Vascularized tissue coverage is necessary for treatment of soft tissue defect with bone and tendon exposure on hand and foot dorsum, which cannot be successfully covered with simple skin graft or local flap. The temporal fascia is one of the most ideal donor for coverage of soft tissue defect of dorsum of hand or foot in term of ultra-thin, pliable and highly vascular tissue. Also, this flap offers the advantage of a well-concealed donor site in the hair-bearing scalp and smooth tendon gliding. We have experienced 11 cases of reconstruction for soft tissue defect in the hand or foot using temporal fascial flap with skin graft. All cases survived completely and we could gain satisfactory functional results. There were no specific complications except one donor site alopecia We think that the free temporal fascial flap coverage is a highly reliable method for soft tissue defect in hand and foot dorsum. However, the potential pitfalls is secondary alopecia and requirement of skin graft after its transfer.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.641-645
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• 2021

A 3,480 g male neonate showed tachypnea symptom with a serum ionized calcium level of 0.66 mmol/L by routine clinical analysis. He was injected calcium gluconate intravenously through femoral vein catheter to treat the hypocalcemia. On second day after the injection, he started to show erythema in the flank area. The lesion became firm and changed into whitish crust consist of small crystals. Abdominal X-ray and ultrasonography showed the accumulation of calcium deposit in the subcutaneous layer of the lesion. Surgical debridement was performed to remove the crust with calcium deposit and acellular fish skin graft rich in omega-3 (Kerecis) was applied to the defect site for secondary intention of the defect wound. After 2 months, the skin and soft tissue defect were fully covered with healthy normal skin without depression or contracture. This report is a first case of iatrogenic calcinosis cutis without extravasation symptom.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-43
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• 2004

An advanced maxillary sinus cancer requires an extensive ablation that results an extensive facial deformity, including a skin defect. Reconstruction has to be considered in a radical maxillectomy, especially with skin defect may be accomplished in one stage with a microsurgical free transfer of a latissimus dorsi flap. A man of right maxillary sinus cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, 47 years old of age, had soft tissue invasion of the cheek region. He underwent a radical maxillectomy with extensive skin excision. The maxillectomy and skin defects were reconstructed with the double skin island latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap. The cosmetic result and the functional outcome of the nose were thought to be considerably satisfied.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2022

Performing a skin graft is not feasible for tendon-exposed defect reconstruction because tendons are fibrous connective tissues with relatively poor blood supply. This study proposes a method to effectively perform skin graft surgery in tendon-exposed wounds. A 48-year-old male patient with diabetes mellitus had a very large left dorsal foot defect (8×8 cm). The wound bed had healthy granular tissue, with tendon exposure. The tendons were turned over so that the posterior side would behave as the anterior side. The edge of the paratenon was then fixed together to the surrounding granulation tissue or dense remnant fascia using absorbable sutures, and the close granulation tissue was approximated and buried. A split-thickness skin graft was performed after 1 week. The graft site was stably taken on postoperative day 3. A small disruption was then observed at the graft site within 1 week postoperatively, but conservative treatment was continued for 1 month, after which the defect site was completely restored. This technique can increase the success rate of skin grafts for defects with tendon exposure.