• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2005

The Transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap has been commonly used for autologous breast reconstruction. Despite these clinical usefulness, the TRAM flap is prone to partial flap or fat necrosis in especially pedicled flap. To improve flap survival, the surgical delay procedures and pharmacological treatments have been developed. In many studies for the pharmacological treatment, Lipo-$PGE_1$ has demonstrated a marked ability to improve flap survival and it's effect has been proved similar to surgical delay procedure. The purpose of this study is to determine the most effective route of Lipo-$PGE_1$ administration as a pharmacological treatment in TRAM flap of the rat. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 300-350 gm were divided into five groups, One week before flap elevation, Lipo-$PGE_1$($2{\mu}g/kg$) was injected three times in a week and than the left inferior epigastric vessel based TRAM flap ($5.0{\times}3.0cm$) elevated; group I: no procedure before flap elevation; group II: intraperitoneal injection; group III: intravenous injection; group IV: subcutaneous injection; group V: topical application. A flap was assessed at postoperative 7 days by comparison of flap survival rate, vessel counts(H-E stain), and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) protein expressed by Western blot. The results demonstrated that the mean percentages of the flap survival area in group III were significantly higher than that of any other group(p<0.05). The vessel counts of all experimental groups were statistically higher than that of control group(p<0.05). Only in group III, the VEGF protein expression was increased significantly than control group and there are no difference in other experimental groups. In conclusion, the intravenous administration of the Lipo-$PGE_1$ is the most effective on flap survival, and the VEGF induced by Lipo-$PGE_1$ has some positive effects on new vessel formation and flap survival.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2007

Purpose: The flap delay is a widely used technique to increase the flap survival. Dexamethasone is a well-known drug to have a positive impact on the flap survival. The objective of this study is to investigate the dual synergic effect of epinephrine as a chemical delay agent plus dexamethasone on the TRAM flap survival in rat model. Methods: Forty Sparague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups evenly and a right inferior epigastic vessel pedicled TRAM flap, sized $5.0{\times}3.0cm$, was elevated on each upper abdomen. In the control group(N=10), 2 ml saline was injected on transverse abdominis muscle for a week before the flap elevation. In surgical delay group(N=10) all superior pedicles and left inferior pedicle were ligated a week before the flap elevation. In epinephrine group (N=10), 1 : 50000 epinephrine mixed saline was injected to transverse abdominis muscle every day for a week before flap elevation. In epinephrine plus dexamethasone group (N=10), the same procedure as that of epinephrine group was conducted for a week and 2.5 ml/kg dexamethasone was injected transverse abdominis muscle 2 hours before the flap elevation. On the seventh day after flap elevation, the survival area of flaps were measured and the vessel numbers in upper dermis of flap were counted through histologic slides. Results: The results were as follows: the mean percentage of the flap survival area of surgical delay group ($60.5{\pm}2.44%$), epinephrine group ($75{\pm}4.43%$), and epinephrine plus dexamethasone group ($87{\pm}1.94%$) were higher than that of the control group ($35{\pm}6.06%$) significantly(p<0.05). In case of the vessel number though histologic slides, epinephrine group ($79.3{\pm}5.57$) and epinephrine plus dexamethasone group ($96.3{\pm}14.05$) were higher than that of the control group ($44.8{\pm}8.82$) significantly(p<0.05), but the surgical delay group ($54{\pm}4.23$) showed no significant difference (p>0.05) compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: The results indicated that epinephrine plus dexamethasone injection before the flap elevation could be used to increase the TRAM flap survival area in rat model.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2013

Core muscle is the most crucial for rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal and nervous problem, there is pain, imbalance and functional movement disorder of upper and lower extremities. In this study, low-frequency electrical stimulator was developed for the purpose increasing the activity of rectus abdominis (RA) and the thickness of transverse abdominis (TrA), internal obliquus abdominis (IO), and external obliquus abdominis (EO). Fifteen female in their 20's was divided into a experiment groups (traditional electrical stimulation group, developed electrical stimulation group) and control group. Low-frequency electrical stimulation was performed in experimental groups for 4 times a week, 4 weeks. The muscle activities (RA) by EMG and muscle thickness (TrA, IO, EO) by Ultrasonogrphy imaging were measured, respectively. In the result, the muscle activity of RA and muscle thickness of TrA and EO were significantly increased at developed electrical stimulation group (p<.05). Therefore, the developed low-frequency electrical stimulation is useful for rehabilitation with CNS and PNS subjects.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2009

Background: To evaluate the effects of Australian stabilization exercise for chronic low back pain. Methods: Interventions consisted of exercises aimed at recovery of Multifidus in cocontraction with Transverse abdominis through neural control retraining. Results: After exercise, there were significant improvement(p<.05) in pain and disability score. Conclusions: Neural control stabilization exercise can be effective intervention for chronic Low Back Pain patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.571-576
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• 2010

Purpose: Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the foot often requires free-flap transfer. Free muscle flap transfer and skin grafts on the muscle has been an option for these defects. Here we present our experiences of foot reconstruction using an endoscopy-assisted free muscle flap harvest. Methods: Using endoscopy-assisted free muscle flap harvests, four patients with soft tissue defects of the foot were treated with a free muscle flap and skin graft. The gracilis muscle was used for two patients and the rectus abdominis muscle for two. A single small transverse skin incision was placed on the lower abdomen for the rectus abdominis muscle. A small transverse skin incision on the proximal thigh was the only incision for harvesting the gracilis muscle flap. The small incisions were enough for the muscle flap to be pulled through. Results: The flaps survived successfully in all cases. Contours were good from both functional and aesthetic aspects. No breakdowns or ulcerations of the flap developed during long-term follow-up. Resultant scars were short and relatively hidden. Functional morbidities such as abdominal bulging were not noted. Conclusion: Endoscopy-assisted harvest of muscle flap and transfer with skin graft is a good option for soft tissue defects of the foot. Morbidities of the donor site can be minimized with endoscopic flap harvest. This method is preferable for young patients who want a small donor site scar.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2016

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify differences in the thickness of the transverse abdominis (TrA) and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) between those with (LBP) and without low back pain (non-LBP). The standardized methods of contraction for the TrA and PFM were used to perform the abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC), respectively. METHODS: This study included 27 young men and women, who were verbally instructed regarding the maneuvers (LBP, n=14; non-LBP, n=13). For all subjects, TrA and PFM thickness were evaluated by ultrasonography during ADIM and PFC. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that TrA thickness increased during ADIM and PFC to a greater degree in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (p < 0.01). PFM thickness increased more during PFC in the non-LBP group than in the LBP group (p < 0.05). Both groups showed greater increases in TrA thickness during ADIM than during PFC (p < 0.01), and greater increases in PFM thickness during PFC than during ADIM (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that receiving verbal instructions on how to use each muscle for a specific maneuver was more beneficial than other verbal instruction. Further studies are needed determine how our results may be applied beneficially in research on this topic.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1957-1963
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of dynamic stabilization exercise on unstable surface on thickness, muscle density and white area index (WAI) of transverse abdominis muscle and multifidus muscle. The subjects were 20s healthy adults and 27 people were measured for muscle thickness and muscle density, white area index after the experiment conducted during a six-week dynamic stabilization exercises divided into three groups, each in a different plane. The results showed a significant difference between the three groups (p <.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance (repeated ANOVA) results, transverse abdominis muscle and multifidus muscle thickness showed a significant difference between the groups in the time difference (p <.05), and between multifidus muscle density and white area index in the comparison between groups showed a significant difference (p <.05). In conclusion, showed significant difference in lumbar stabilization exercise part. These results seems to be utilized as a basis for future research on the lumbar stabilization exercise.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.631-635
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• 2012

Background The evaluation of a breast after breast reconstruction depends on a surgeon's subjective criteria. We used computed tomography (CT) scans to obtain an objective evaluation of the postoperative results by measuring the breast volume of patients who had undergone breast reconstruction using pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps. This research will help in the objective postoperative evaluation of reconstructed breasts, and also in the preoperative flap size designs. Methods A total of 27 patients underwent breast reconstruction using pedicled TRAM flaps after mastectomy from September 2007 to July 2010. Of these, 10 patients who were followed up and underwent CT scans 2 or more times during the follow-up period were included in this study. We evaluated the change in breast volume over time using CT scans, and the interval breast volume change between CT scans. Results All of the 10 patients' reconstructed breasts showed a volume decrease over time. The breast volume changes in the intervals between CT scans were as follows: 5.65% decrease between the first CT and second CT scan, 2.3% decrease between the second CT and third CT scan, (statistically significant) and 1.89% decrease between the third CT and forth CT scan. (not statistically significant). Conclusions This research shows the possibility of objectively evaluating the postoperative breast volume changes. The findings will be helpful in designing the size of TRAM flaps to use on defects after mastectomy. Based on these results, we should also closely observe the reconstructed breast volume for at least 2 years.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2018

Background Flap volume is an important factor for obtaining satisfactory symmetry in breast reconstruction with a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) free flap. We aimed to develop an easy and simple method to estimate flap volume. Methods We performed a preoperative estimation of the TRAM flap volume in five patients with breast cancer who underwent 2-stage breast reconstruction following an immediate tissue expander operation after a simple mastectomy. We measured the height and width of each flap zone using a ruler and measured the tissue thickness by ultrasound. The volume of each zone, approximated as a triangular or square prism, was then calculated. The zone volumes were summed to obtain the total calculated volume of the TRAM flap. We then determined the width of zone II, so that the calculated flap volume was equal to the required flap volume ($1.2{\times}1.05{\times}$the weight of the resected mastectomy tissue). The TRAM flap was transferred vertically so that zone III was located on the upper side, and zone II was trimmed in the sitting position after vascular anastomosis. We compared the estimated flap width of zone II (=X) with the actual flap width of zone II. Results X was similar to the actual measured width. Accurate volume replacement with the TRAM flap resulted in good symmetry in all cases. Conclusions The volume of a free TRAM flap can be straightforwardly estimated preoperatively using the method presented here, with ultrasound, ruler, and simple calculations, and this technique may help reduced the time required for precise flap tailoring.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2013

Background Our objective was to compare the complication rates of two common breast reconstruction techniques performed at our hospital and the cost-effectiveness for each test group. Methods All patients who underwent deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap by the same surgeon were selected and matched according to age and mastectomy with or without axillary clearance. Patients from each resultant group were selected, with the patients matched chronologically. The remainder were matched for by co-morbidities. Sixteen patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps and 16 patients with DIEP flaps from 1999 to 2006 were accrued. The average total hospitalisation cost, length of hospitalisation, and complications in the 2 year duration after surgery for each group were compared. Results Complications arising from both the pedicled TRAM flaps and DIEP flaps included fat necrosis (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 4/16) and other minor complications (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 1/16). The mean hospital stay was 7.13 days (range, 4 to 12 days) for the pedicled TRAM group and 7.56 (range, 5 to 10 days) for the DIEP group. Neither the difference in complication rates nor in hospital stay duration were statistically significant. The total hospitalisation cost for the DIEP group was significantly higher than that of the pedicled TRAM group (P<0.001). Conclusions Based on our study, the pedicled TRAM flap remains a cost-effective technique in breast reconstruction when compared to the newer, more expensive and tedious DIEP flap.