Sam Yong Lee

Correction of axillary burn scar contracture with the thoracodorsal perforator-based cutaneous island flap.

&NA; Axillary scar contracture is observed frequently after severe burn insult and is usually accompanied by injuries to the adjacent area. Although many therapeutic methods, including skin grafting, Z‐plasties, local flaps, island flaps, and free flaps, have been established, each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages in specific situations. The decision regarding which technique to use can only be made after consideration is given to the merits of the individual case. We applied thoracodorsal perforator‐based cutaneous flaps to 5 patients with axillary burn scar contractures and damaged adjacent tissues. In 1 patient both axillae were involved. Elevated flaps as large as 11 × 27 cm in size were used. All flaps survived completely even when raised in scar tissue. The donor sites were closed primarily except one, which needed a skin graft. Three patients obtained satisfactory release with more than 160 deg shoulder abduction. In 2 patients, release was incomplete with only 110 deg shoulder abduction, but neither one required a second release. The range of motion in terms of shoulder abduction was improved preoperatively (30‐90 deg) to postoperatively (110‐170 deg). The thoracodorsal perforator‐based cutaneous flap presents a very useful reconstructive method for the treatment of axillary defects. Kim DY, Cho SY, Kim KS, Lee SY, Cho BH. Correction of axillary burn scar contracture with the thoracodorsal perforator‐based cutaneous island flap. Ann Plast Surg 2000;44:181‐187

Correction of inverted nipple: an alternative method using two triangular areolar dermal flaps.

Inverted nipple, which is defined as a nipple located on a plane lower than the areola, presents both functional and cosmetic problems. It is a source of repeated irritation and inflammation, and interferes with nursing. In addition, its abnormal appearance may cause psychological distress. Inverted nipples are congenital or acquired, and are classified as the umbilicated and invaginated types or divided into 3 groups (grades 1, 2, and 3). With consideration of its underlying pathophysiologic components and severity, various surgical procedures have been proposed. For correcting the inverted nipple, the authors introduce an alternative, simple method using 2 triangular areolar dermal flaps. Compared with other methods using triangular areolar dermal flaps, each triangle is approximately 1 mm shorter than the diameter of the nipple, and the deepithelialized areolar dermal flaps are lodged at the slit in the bundle of the lactiferous ducts in the grade 2 inverted nipple. From August 2000 to December 2001, 11 patients (16 nipples) were treated. Five patients had bilateral inverted nipples. Patient age at operation ranged from 18 to 31 years (mean age, 27 years). All nipples were congenital and they had no previous operation. Thirteen nipples were grade 2 and 3 were grade 3 according to the classification of inverted nipple by Han and Hong. The mean follow-up period was 8.7 months (range, 3–12 months). Follow-up examinations revealed no evidence of recurrence of inversion. There was no complication associated with surgery, such as infection, hematoma, permanent sensory disturbance, or nipple necrosis. The resulting scars were minimal. All patients were satisfied with their results. The authors conclude that their procedure is reliable, preserves the lactiferous ducts in grade 2 inverted nipple, requires no special postoperative care, and leaves minimal scars and no recurrence of inversion. This technique can be applied to any type of inverted nipple as a primary surgical procedure.

A new strategy of fingertip reattachment: sequential use of microsurgical technique and pocketing of composite graft.

&NA; Many methods have been used to reattach amputated fingertips. Of these methods, microsurgery has been accepted as the procedure of choice because the defining characteristic of a microsurgically replanted finger is that its survival in the recipient bed is predicated on functioning intravascular circulation. Although considerable progress has been made in the techniques for microvascular replantation of amputated fingers, the replantation of an amputated fingertip is difficult because digital arteries branch into small arteries. This is in addition to digital veins that run from both sides of the nail bed to the median dorsal sides, which are difficult to separate from the immobile soft tissue. Furthermore, even with the most technically skilled microsurgeon, replantation failure often occurs, especially in severe injury cases. Therefore, the technique is not the only protection against failure, and a new strategy of fingertip reattachment is needed. From March of 1997 to December of 1999, 12 fingers of 11 patients with zone 1 or zone 2 fingertip amputations that were reattached microsurgically but were compromised were deepithelialized, reattached, and then inserted into the abdominal pocket. All had been complete amputations with crushing injuries. Approximately 3 weeks later, the fingers were depocketed and covered with a skin graft. Of the 12 fingers, 7 survived completely and 3 had partial necrosis on less than one‐third the volume of the amputated part. The complete survival rate was approximately 58 percent. The results of the above 10 fingers were satisfactory from both functional and cosmetic aspects. The authors believe that this high success rate was achieved because the deepithelialized finger pulp was placed in direct contact with the deep abdominal fascia, which was equipped with plentiful vascularity, not subcutaneous fat. In addition, the pocketing was performed promptly before necrosis of the compromised fingertip occurred. From the results of this study, it is clear that this new method is useful and can raise the survival rate of an amputated fingertip. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 107: 73, 2001.)

Fingertip reconstruction using a volar flap based on the transverse palmar branch of the digital artery.

A new homodigital neurovascular island flap for fingertip reconstruction, called a volar digital island flap, is described. The flap is perfused from the proper digital artery through the transverse palmar branch, and is drained through the tiny venules and capillaries contained in the perivascular soft tissue. Between 1997 and 2000, 25 fingers from 23 patients with defects of the middle and distal phalangeal areas were reconstructed using this flap. All flaps survived well. Patient age ranged from 17 to 65 years (average age, 32.5 years). Long-term follow-up for more than 6 months was possible in 15 fingers from 14 patients. Light touch and temperature sensation could be detected in all the flaps evaluated. The mean value of the static two-point discrimination test was 4.2 mm. Although this flap requires the sacrifice of important volar skin, it provides excellent padding and sensation for fingertip reconstruction. The authors think that this new flap is an alternative choice for coverage of fingertip defects.

Thumb reconstruction using the radial midpalmar (perforator-based) island flap (distal thenar perforator-based island flap).

Background: Although the reconstruction of palmar defects of the thumb with exposed vital structures is difficult because of a lack of locally available tissue, several local flaps are available for the reconstruction of these defects. The majority of these flaps are raised from the dorsal or dorsolateral aspect of the thumb and index finger or from the forearm. Methods: Between 1998 and 2008, 23 patients underwent reconstruction of palmar defects of the thumb at Chonnam National University Medical School, using the radial midpalmar (perforator-based) island flap (distal thenar perforator-based island flap), a perforator-based island flap harvested from the radial aspect of the midpalm and based on perforators from the terminal branch of the superficial palmar arch and the princeps pollicis artery. Results: All flaps survived completely. Flap sizes ranged from 2 to 4 cm in width and from 2.5 to 6 cm in length. Donor sites were closed primarily in 10 patients and covered with skin grafts in 13 patients. Healing of all donor sites was uncomplicated, and donor-site morbidity was minimal with acceptable scarring. Long-term follow-up ranging from 6 to 37 months (mean, 16 months) revealed excellent flap sensibility. Conclusions: The radial midpalmar (perforator-based) island flap offers acceptable functional and cosmetic outcomes with respect to elasticity, durability, skin color and texture, and sensation for the reconstruction of extensive palmar defects of the thumb. The authors recommend that this flap be considered a treatment of choice for the reconstruction of these defects.

Plantar reconstruction using the medial sural artery perforator free flap.

Free flaps are usually required rather than local flaps for large plantar defects, due to a lack of locally available tissue. The medial sural artery perforator free flap, recently introduced clinically by several authors, is a noticeable option for soft tissue coverage, but it has still not been widely used for the reconstruction of various large plantar defects. Between 2005 and 2007, medial sural artery perforator free flaps were used to reconstruct soft tissue defects in plantar areas in 11 patients at our institute. Patient ages ranged from 10 to 68 years (mean, 43 years), and follow-up periods ranged from 7 to 22 months (mean, 13 months). Flap sizes ranged from 10 to 14 cm in length and from 5 to 7 cm in width. Flaps survived in all patients. Marginal loss over the distal flap region was noted in 1 patient, and this was treated successfully with a subsequent split-thickness skin graft. In another one case, venous insufficiency developed, but salvage was successful with leech application. Long-term follow-up showed good flap durability with a protective sensation. The medial sural artery perforator flap provides sufficient durability for weight-bearing areas, even though it is a thin cutaneous flap. The authors recommend that this flap be considered as a reliable alternative for the reconstruction of large plantar defects.

Eyebrow island flap for reconstruction of a partial eyebrow defect

A diverse variety of methods for reconstructing eyebrow defects has been described previously, and each procedure has inherent advantages and disadvantages. The authors present a case of reconstruction of a partial eyebrow defect using two eyebrow island flaps, which are modifications of the subcutaneous pedicle flap.

Surgical correction of cryptotia using Medpor.

Cryptotia is a congenital auricular anomaly found more commonly in Orientals than whites. The characteristics of cryptotia are the invagination of the upper part of the auricle under the temporal skin and the deformity of the auricular cartilage. The goals of the repair of cryptotia are to release the upper ear from the side of the head to restore the retroauricular groove, to correct the malposition, and to correct the cartilaginous deformity. To lengthen the skin between the superior portion of the auricle and the scalp, the authors used both the modified Z-plasty and the temporal advancement flap. We partially detached the abnormal insertion of the superior auricular muscle at the upper part of the helix to make it weak. After complete exposure of the posterior aspect of the upper auricular cartilage, the constricted intrinsic transverse and oblique muscles were cut, and everting horizontal mattress sutures were inserted on the antihelix to expand the constricted body and crus of the antihelix. Thereafter, an ultrathin Medpor sheet (0.85-mm thickness) was fixed with 6-0 nylon sutures to the posterior aspect of the corrected antihelical cartilage for lengthening and splinting the relatively shortened upper pole of the deformed cartilage. This operative method is thought to be useful in maintaining the lengthened auricular height and shape, and in preventing the relapse of ear cartilage deformities.

Latissimus dorsi muscle and its short perforator-based skin compound free flap.

Some authors have described the latissimus dorsi muscle and its short perforator-based skin compound flap based on the same thoracodorsal vessels. This flap procedure involves separating the skin island from the underlying latissimus dorsi muscle and rotating the skin island over the musculocutaneous perforator emerging from the latissimus dorsi muscle. As with all surgical procedures, there are various advantages and disadvantages. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no reports on the use of the flap in a consecutive series. Between 1997 and 2005, the flap was used to reconstruct below-knee structures in 26 patients (23 males and 3 females) by the 2 senior authors at the Chonnam National University Medical School. The clinical outcomes of this procedure were evaluated. Satisfactory results were obtained in most patients. However, there were 2 marginal necroses in the excessively large skin flaps, 1 partial necrosis over the distal edge of a skin flap, and 1 total flap failure caused by infection. The marginally and partially necrotized skin flaps were treated successfully with split-thickness skin grafts. However, another flap procedure was required to cover the defect in the case of flap failure. The donor sites were closed primarily in all patients, and the skin flaps were rotated between 40° and 180°. This flap allows the surface of the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap to be expanded without additional donor morbidity. In addition, the flap procedure is safe and easy to perform. Moreover, the flap provides sufficient flexibility, even though it has less independent flap mobility than the chimeric flap. Therefore, the flap may be a convenient and reliable alternative for the reconstruction of large and irregular-shaped wounds.