• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2022

Purpose: With the increasing number of polytrauma patients treated at high-level trauma centers, plastic surgery has entered the specialty of traumatology. Plastic surgeons specialize in the simultaneous surgical care of patients with facial or hand trauma and soft tissue injuries requiring microsurgery. The purpose of this study was to introduce the role of plastic surgery in a high-level trauma center. Methods: Between January 2020 and December 2020, 5,712 patients with traumatic injuries were admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Of these 5,712 patients, 1,578 patients were hospitalized for surgical treatment and/or critical care. Among the 1,578 hospitalized trauma patients, 551 patients (35%) required at least one plastic surgery procedure. The patient variables included age, sex, etiology, the injured area, and injury characteristics. We also retrospectively investigated surgical data such as the duration of the operation, hospital stay, length of time from injury to surgery, and collaboration with other departments. Results: The most common injury referred to plastic surgery was facial trauma (41%), followed by hand trauma (36%), and soft tissue injuries requiring microsurgery in various parts of the body other than the hand (7%). The majority of facial and hand traumas were concomitant injuries. Sixteen percent of patients underwent collaborative surgical management for polytrauma involving both plastic surgery and another department. Conclusions: The role of plastic surgery in multidisciplinary teams at high-level trauma centers has become increasingly important. The results of this study may help in the development of multidisciplinary trauma team strategies and future workforce planning.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2014

Purpose: Anteromedial surface of the leg is susceptible to trauma, which frequently induces soft tissue defect. When the size of a soft tissue defect is small to moderate, a local muscle flap is an easy and reliable alternative to a free flap. The authors performed medial hemisoleus flaps for reconstruction of soft tissue defects on the anteromedial surface of legs. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and effectiveness of the medial hemisoleus flap. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients underwent the medial hemisoleus flap for reconstruction of a soft tissue defect on the anteromedial surface of the leg from February 2009 to December 2013. There were eight males and four females with a mean age of 47.8 years (15 to 69 years). The mean size of defects was $4.7{\times}4.2cm$ ($2{\times}2$ to $9{\times}6cm$). Flap survival and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: Mean follow-up period was 39.6 months (7 to 64 months) and all flaps survived. There were two cases of negligible necrosis of distal margin of the flap, which were healed after debridement. All patients were capable of full weight bearing ambulation at the last follow-up. Conclusion: The medial hemisoleus flap is a simple, reliable procedure for treatment of a small to moderate sized soft tissue defect on the anteromedial surface of the leg.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.438-445
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• 2016

Background The goal of reconstruction is to provide coverage of exposed vital structures with well-vascularized tissue for optimal restoration of form and function. Here, we present our clinical experience with the use of the scapular fascial free flap to correct facial asymmetry and to reconstruct soft tissue defects of the extremities. Methods We used a scapular fascial free flap in 12 cases for soft tissue coverage of the extremities or facial soft tissue augmentation. Results The flaps ranged in size from $3{\times}12$ to $13{\times}23$ cm. No cases of total loss of the flap occurred. Partial loss of the flap occurred in 1 patient, who was treated with a turnover flap using the adjacent scapular fascial flap and a skin graft. Partial loss of the skin graft occurred in 4 patients due to infection or hematoma beneath the graft, and these patients underwent another skin graft. Four cases of seroma at the donor site occurred, and these cases were treated with conservative management or capsulectomy and quilting sutures. Conclusions The scapular fascial free flap has many advantages, including a durable surface for restoration of form and contours, a large size with a constant pedicle, adequate surface for tendon gliding, and minimal donor-site scarring. We conclude that despite the occurrence of a small number of complications, the scapular fascial free flap should be considered to be a viable option for soft tissue coverage of the extremities and facial soft tissue augmentation.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2001

Objectives KYUNGKUEN CHUNA is a kind of manipulation therapy which aims at the treatment of the soft tissue Injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Oriental Medical literatures on KYUNGKUEN CHUNA. Methods: We surveyed the oriental medical books concerning KYUNGKUEN CHUNA. Result & Conclusion KYUNGKUEN CHUNA is used for the treatment of the soft tissue injury. It can be classified as the wave-motion manipulations. rubbing manipulations and pressure manipulations.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.140-143
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• 2008

Degloving injuries result from the tangential force against the skin surface, with resultant separation of the skin and the subcutaneous tissue from the rigid underlying muscle and fascia. These injuries are associated with extensive soft tissue loss and occasionally with exposure of bone, and they require reconstructive modality for resurfacing and successful rehabilitation that considers the vascular anatomy and the timing of the operation. A 19-year-old male patient was transferred to our facility with degloving injury extending from the lower third of the right thigh to the malleolar area. The tibial bone was exposed to a size of $2{\times}3.5cm^2$ on the upper third of the lower leg at the posttraumatic third day. The exposed soft tissue was healthy, and the patient did not have any other associated disease. At the posttraumatic sixth day, one-stage resurfacing was performed with a medial gastrocnemius muscle flap transposition for the denuded bone and a split-thickness skin graft for the entire raw surface. The transposed gastrocnemius muscle attained its anatomical shape quickly, and the operating time was relatively short. No transfusion was needed. This early reconstruction prevented the accumulation of chronic granulation tissue, which leads to contracture of the wound and joint. The early correction of the gastrocnemius muscle flap transposition made early rehabilitation possible, and the patient recovered a nearly full range of motion at the injured knee joint. The leg contour was almost symmetric at one month postoperatively.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 2009

Purpose: There are no reports on amusement-park-related injuries in Korea. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe traumatic injury patterns that occurring in an amusement park. Methods: The medical records of an infirmary were retrospectively reviewed. From January 1, 2008, to December 31 2008, patients who were transferred to the nearest emergency departments of hospitals for the purpose of further test and treatment were enrolled. Demographics, injury types and involved parts of the body were analyzed. Results: A total of 3,608 patients visited an infirmary for traumatic injury and about two-thirds had soft issue injuries. Of those, 191 patients (5.3%) were transferred to the emergency department of a hospital. Of the patients who were transferred to a hospital, laceration and contusion were the responsible injuries for about half. Laceration was the most common injury in pediatric patients, and a sprain or a strain was the most common in adult patients. The most commonly injured parts of the body were the extremities in adult patients. However, in pediatric patients, injuries of the head, face and neck were similar to injuries of the extremities. Conclusion: Soft tissue injury was the most common amusement-park-related injury. Laceration was the most common reason to transfer a patient to a hospital. There were differences in injury type and injured part of the body between adult and pediatric patients.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the contributing factors in facial soft tissue injuries among children. A record-based analysis was carried out on 126 patients with facial lacerations who visited I hospital in the dept of plastic surgery from April 2010 to May 2011. Through all age group showed a significant difference in incidence rate for male and female.(p<.05). Overall, 49% of injuries occurred outdoors and the most frequent cause of injury was slip-down (42%), followed by being struck (40%). In general, the frequency of injuries peaked summer(30.2%) and increased between 12pm and 4pm. 105 patients (83.3%) arrived at the emergency room within an hour. The forehead(26%) was the most commonly injured area. The depth of soft tissue injuries was mostly subcutaneous(54%), and 1~2cm was the length of injury with the highest incidence(46%). Most children (40%) needed local anesthesia and only 4 children (1.53%) suffered associated fractures. Facial injuries require special attention because of their potential threat in inducing permanent scar or disfigurement. For the safety of children, the preventive measures to reduce facial soft tissue injuries must be improved.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2013

Purpose: Crushing injuries by car tires result from a combination of friction, shearing, and compression forces and the severity of injury is influenced by the acceleration. Because car-tire injuries of the lower leg in children are common these days but they have received little attention; thus, our purpose was to look closely into this problem. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from children under 15 years old age who visited an emergency department because of a car-tire-related crushing injury to the lower leg in pedestrian traffic accident from January 2008 to September 2012. The patient's age, sex, site of injury, degree of injury, associated injuries, type of surgery, and complications were reviewed. Results: There were 39 children, the mean age was 8.0 years, and 71.8% were boys. The dorsal part of the leg was involved most frequently. According to the severity classification, 15 children were grade I, 6 were grade II, and 18 were grade III. Among 24 patients, 13 were treated with skin graft and 3 were treated using a sural flap. Twelve patients developed complications, such as hypertrophic scarring, contractures, and deformities with significant bone loss. Conclusion: Various degrees of skin or soft tissue defects were caused in children by car tires. In this study, patients were often also had tendon or bone damage. Proper and timely initial treatments are needed to reduce the incidence of infection, the number of operative procedures, and the hospital stay.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.485-490
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• 2005

Fingertip is the end of tactile organ and the part of hand most frequently injured. Fingertip injuries should be evaluated on an individual basis considering patient's overall physical condition, medical history, etiology, time of injury, and anticipated future hand use, and accordingly one of various methods of reconstruction should be selected. Complications after the reconstruction of fingertip injuries have been reported as pain, hypersensitivity, numbness, distal paresthesia, cold intolerance, and atrophy. From January to December 2002, dermofat grafts were performed on 15 patients to correct painful fingertips after injury. The thickness of the soft tissue of fingertip was measured both preoperatively and postoperatively with simple X-ray. To evaluate the improvement of pain, visual analogue scale(VAS) was used through the direct interview with patients. The average of postoperative follow-up period was 10.9 months. The average of increased soft tissue thickness ratio was 88.4%(2.3mm to 3.8mm). The average of preoperative VAS was 7.6, and postoperative VAS was 3. Dermofat graft on fingertip needs a further long-term follow-up study for the absorption ratio of dermofat, however, this procedure is simple and could be done under local anesthesia, and would be a useful alternative procedure to correct painful fingertips with the soft tissue atrophy after injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.745-749
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• 2022

Background Soft tissue defects of the multiple finger present challenges to reconstruction surgeons. Here, we introduce the use of a lateral arm free flap and syndactylization for the coverage of multiple finger soft tissue defects. Methods This retrospective study was conducted based on reviews of the medical records of 13 patients with multiple soft tissue defects of fingers (n = 33) that underwent temporary syndactylization with a microvascular lateral arm flap for temporary syndactylization from January 2010 to December 2020. Surgical and functional outcomes, times of flap division, complications, and demographic data were analyzed. Results Middle fingers were most frequently affected, followed by ring and index fingers. Mean patient age was 43.58 years. The 13 patients had suffered 10 traumas, 2 thermal burns, and 1 scar contracture. Release of temporary syndactyly was performed 3 to 9 weeks after syndactylization. All flaps survived, but partial necrosis occurred in one patient, who required a local transposition flap after syndactylization release. The mean follow-up was 15.8 months. Conclusion Coverage of multiple finger defects by temporary syndactylization using a free lateral arm flap with subsequent division offers an alternative treatment option.