• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2021

Previously reported nipple-areolar complex reconstruction (NAR) methods involve multiple incisions and wide skin redraping, which increase retraction forces and heighten the risk of nipple-areolar complex (NAC) flattening. We introduce a NAR method using the long V-Y advancement technique that can overcome these disadvantages. A V-shaped flap is designed with the width of the flap base 4-5 mm larger than the diameter of the normal nipple. The flap length is designed to be at least 2.5 times its width. Dissection is performed to the top of the artificial dermal matrix or muscle layer. The nipple is constructed with the same projection as the contralateral side by folding the elevated flap. The tip of the elevated flap is apposed in the middle of the donor defect to minimize the deformity during donor site closure. A 3-point skin suture is applied to the upper third of the folded flap to mold its shape. Using this long V-Y advancement technique, we successfully decreased skin tension in NAC flaps and improved the maintenance of reconstructed nipple projection. The long V-Y advancement technique provides an easy, simple NAR method, effectively maintaining longer nipple projections and reducing breast deformities, especially in Asian women with relatively large nipples.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 1996

Between May 1991 and September 1995, 7 patients underwent surgical repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD) complicated with myocardial infarction in Asan Medical Center. The patients included two male and five female. The ages of patients were ranged from 54 years to 76 years with a mean of 65 years. The sites of postinfarction ventricular septal defect were consist of anterior septal defect in 6 patients and anteroposterior septal defect in 1 patient. Preoperative 2D-echocardiography & angiography were performed in all patients in order to measure ventricular function and evaluate the extent of coronary artery disease. The operations were delayed till mean 24 $\pm$ 12days after myocardial infarction. All patients underwent infarctectomy and Teflon patch closures through the area of the left ventricle infarction or aneurysm in the anterior or apical aspect of postinfarction ventricular septal defect. The ventricular septal defect repaired simultaneously with coronary artery b pass graft in 3 patients, with ventricular aneurysmectomy in 5 patients, and with left ventricular thrombectomy in 1 patient. Patch fixation in the left side of interventricular septum by tracts-septal interrupted pledget suture reduced the recurrence rate of VSD. There were 2 postoperative complications : One with pneumonia, 1 patient with the skin necrosis of left thigh. There was ilo early death. The 6 patients except for one emigrant were followed up postoperatively between 3 and 63 months(mean .28 months), without any sequelae and late death. They are in New York Heart Association functional class I-II.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2017

Trichilemmal cysts are common fluid-filled growths that arise from the isthmus of the hair follicle. They can form rapidly multiplying trichilemmal tumors-, also called proliferating trichilemmal cysts, which are typically benign. Rarely, proliferating trichilemmal cysts can become cancerous. Here we report the case of a patient who experienced this series of changes. The 27-year-old male patient had been observed to have a $1{\times}1cm$ cyst 7 years ago. Eight months prior to presentation at our institution, incision and drainage was performed at his local clinic. However, the size of the mass had gradually increased. At our clinic, he presented with a $5{\times}4cm$ hard mass that had recurred on the posterior side of his neck. The tumor was removed without safety margin, and the skin defect was covered with a split-thickness skin graft. The pathologic diagnosis was a benign proliferating trichilemmal cyst. The mass recurred after 4months, at which point, a wide excision (1.3-cm safety margin) and split-thickness skin graft were performed. The biopsy revealed a trichilemmal carcinoma arising from a proliferating trichilemmal cyst. This clinical experience suggests that clinicians should consider the possibility of malignant changes when diagnosing and treating trichilemmal cysts.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.382-387
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• 2019

Background: Defects of the nasal ala and tip have a complex three-dimensional structure that makes them challenging to reconstruct. Many reconstructive options have been described for nasal ala and tip defects, ranging from primary closure to local flaps and skin grafts. However, it is difficult to determine which method will yield the best cosmetic results in each individual case. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine which surgical procedures for reconstructing defects of the nasal ala and tip have better cosmetic results. Methods: From 2008 to 2018, 111 patients underwent surgery to reconstruct skin defects after resection of skin cancer in the nasal ala or tip. Their charts were reviewed to obtain data on age, sex, surgical location, size of the defect, surgical method, and cosmetic results using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: For nasal ala reconstruction, the most commonly used surgical technique was the nasolabial flap (n= 42). This method also had the highest VAS score (7/10). The most commonly selected surgical method for nasal tip reconstruction was the bilobed flap (n= 13), and bilobed flaps and primary closure had the highest VAS score (7/10). Conclusion: Nasolabial flaps showed excellent cosmetic results for the reconstruction of nasal ala defects, while primary closure and bilobed flaps yielded excellent cosmetic results for the reconstruction of nasal tip defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.334-340
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• 2015

Background Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) are generally considered unreliable for coverage of full-thickness finger defects with bone or tendon exposure, and there are few clinical reports of its use in this context. However, animal studies have shown that an FTSG can survive over an avascular area ranging up to 12 mm in diameter. In our experience, the width of the exposed bones or tendons in full-thickness finger defects is <7 mm. Therefore, we covered the bone- or tendon-exposed defects of 16 fingers of 10 patients with FTSGs. Methods The surgical objectives were healthy granulation tissue formation in the wound bed, marginal de-epithelization of the normal skin surrounding the defect, preservation of the subdermal plexus of the central graft, and partial excision of the dermis along the graft margin. The donor site was the mastoid for small defects and the groin for large defects. Results Most of the grafts (15 of 16 fingers) survived without significant surgical complications and achieved satisfactory functional and aesthetic results. Minor complications included partial graft loss in one patient, a minimal extension deformity in two patients, a depression deformity in one patient, and mild hyperpigmentation in four patients. Conclusions We observed excellent graft survival with this method with no additional surgical injury of the normal finger, satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes, and no need for secondary debulking procedures. Potential disadvantages include an insufficient volume of soft tissue and graft hyperpigmentation. Therefore, FTSGs may be an option for treatment of full-thickness finger defects with bone or tendon exposure.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2016

Purpose: Skin grafting is used for the transfer of cutaneous tissue from one site of the body to another. To improve graft survival, close contact between the graft and the wound bed is essential for vessels to grow across the gap. Here, we introduce an easy and efficient dressing method to improve graft survival. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who underwent split thickness skin graft and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) or conventional treatment between January 2007 and April 2015. Overall, 25 consecutive patients were included in the NPWT group and 49 were included in the conventional dressing group to compare the outcome of the procedure. The data were obtained from medical records, including age, sex, cause of the skin defect, size of graft, time for healing, wound preparation time, and complications. Results: Of the NPWT group, the average wound size was $147.04{\pm}146.74cm^2$ (range, $9{\sim}900cm^2$). With the exception of one patient, all wounds healed without the need for further procedure. The average duration of time required for the NPWT group, which was defined as removal of stitches (or staples) and no need for additional active dressing, was $6.4{\pm}1.97days$ (range, 5~15 days). The average time for the conventional dressing group was $10.78{\pm}2.38days$ (range, 5~15 days). Conclusion: NPWT can be used to cover regions in which wound healing does not occur fully or when neither tie-over nor compressive dressings are applicable. This treatment also reduced wound healing time and allowed earlier patient mobilization and hospital discharge.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.552-554
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• 2011

Purpose: Though its general usage, traditional tie-over dressing using suture has a few drawbacks such as difficulty in re-fixation after its opening especially when hematoma or seroma has occurred. It is rather difficult to maintain a stable dressing on curvy parts of body like flank, buttocks and that leads to unsatisfactory results of the surgery. Authors recommend a quick and repeatedly doable method, tie-over dressing that incorporates the usage of hooks and rubber bands. Methods: Debridement was done at a recipient site to be able to do skin graft. A right size of skin graft was prepared and placed upon the defect site with suture. Enough number of hooks were attached using Blue nylon at the normal skin of the edge of grafted area. We Applied dressing with ointment and fluffy gauze then fixed the dressing by attaching a rubber band at the hook to give a certain amount of tension. One or two days after the surgery, we opened the tie-over dressing and repeated the tie-over dressing by reusing the hooks and rubber band. Results: The skin grafts were all successfully taken and by repeating tie-over dressing using hooks and rubber, we could take the advantage of shortened the dressing time and eliminate the inconvenience of the patient and the surgeon by using bandages and fixing tapes. Conclusion: The advantage of tie over dressing using hooks and rubber bsnds are its easy re-doability early detection of probable complications, preventability of reoccurence of hematoma and seroma. Therefore, authors report this as considering the tie-over dressing using hooks and rubber bands is recommendable.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2000

Background and Objectives: Various flaps are using for reconstruction of hypopharyngeal and esophageal defect. However, complication and indication of each flap are not fully analyzed. Patient and Methods: Records of 52 hypopharyngeal cancer patients who had surgical treatment and 13 other head and neck cancer patients who underwent hypopharyngeal and/or esophageal reconstruction with flap were retrospectively analyzed. Eighty three percent(54 cases) of patients needed reconstruction other than primary pharyngeal closure. Five split thickness skin graft, 1 pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, 20 forearm free flap, 13 jejunal free flap, 15 gastric pull up were used. Result: Flap failure was noted in 2 cases who had subsequent gastric transposition. Wound dehiscence and fistula were most common problem of forearm free flap. Most fistulas were developed in patients with conduit type reconstruction of forearm flap while there wasn't any fistula in patient with patch type reconstruction. Stenosis of lower anastomosis was the frequent problem of jejunal transfer. Gastric pull-up has frequent com-plication of stomal stenosis. All but three patients had reached oral feeding postoperatively. Conclusion: Based on this study, forearm flap is effective in partial hypopharyngeal defect while jejunum is the choice for circumferential defect. Gastric pull-up is for combined esophageal defect.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.277-280
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• 2010

Purpose: The resection of locally advanced or recurred breast cancers frequently result in large chest wall defects and it leads to a great challenges to cover. Generally simple skin grafts are not a practical option for patients because of their poor cosmetic appearance and prognosis. The latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap have traditionally been recommended for closure of these large defects. Though the cosmetic result of reconstruction using these flaps is often excellent, but has significant drawbacks. Therefore, we thought that chest wall reconstruction using the external oblique musculocutaneous flap can be an alternative method for extensive chest wall defect related to large, locally advanced breast carcinoma. Methods & Results: We present a case of a 50-year-old Korean female, refered to our department with a left breast tumor for 10 months. CT demonstrate a large tumor on the left anterior chest wall and multiple nodules of varying size in the cervical areas and liver. FDG-PET showed areas of hot uptake throughout the left chest wall, mediastinum and liver. Biopsy was consistent with invasive ductal carcinoma (Grade III). The initial tumor was considered inoperable, so a series of chemotherapy was initiated. Though the size of the breast mass was slightly decreased, the patient continued to suffer from purulent discharge, unpleasant odor and contact bleeding of the mass, the salvage mastectomy was performed. Conclusion: We could reconstruct $23{\times}16\;cm$ sized large chest wall defect, resulting from the resection of a locally advanced breast carcinoma, using an external oblique musculocutaneous flap successfully. Immediate postoperatively checked flap was healthy. Overall result was good without any significant complications and discharged 3 weeks after operation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.113-116
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• 2011

Purpose: Many fingertip injuries are associated with nail injury and it is hard to repair to original shape due to its unique characteristic. Mucosal graft is used for a defect of the nail bed injury. Hereby, we introduce a DAP flap and buccal mucosal graft, with which we could reduce the defect size of the injured fingertip and donor site morbidity at the same time, without any need for harvesting additional skin from other part of hand. Also, mucosal graft makes good cosmetic and functional outcome of nail. Methods: This method was performed in a 56-year-old man with fingertip injury on dorsal side of left thumb due to electrical saw. First, DAP flap was performed on the injured finger to reduce the size of the defect of fingertip and cover the bone exposure. Second, nail bed part of the DAP flap was de-epithelized and buccal mucosal graft was done from left side of intraoral cavity wall. Results: Flap and graft survived without any necrosis but some nail bed could not be covered with flap due to insufficient flap size. All wounds healed well and did not present any severe adversary symptoms. Conclusion: DAP flap with mucosal graft is an effective method that we can easily apply in reconstruction of fingertip injury. We suggest that the combination of the two procedures makes good functional and cosmetic outcome compared to the usual manner, especially in cases of nail bed injury without distal phalanx bone defect.