Aesthetic Microsurgical Reconstruction of Extremities

The aim of extremity reconstruction has focused on early wound coverage and functional recovery but rarely aesthetics. As the quality of life improves, however, the request for aesthetics has been growing. The authors has conducted retrospective reviews on the 86 cases that had extremity reconstruction using free flap, considering the characteristics of parts that had been assessed in primary operation between May 1996 and December 2010. Aesthetic grading was performed in four categories; color, texture, contour and marginal scar. Recipient sites were 42 hands, 19 feet, 14 lower extremities excluding feet and 10 upper extremities apart from the hand. Types of free flap were 16 latissimus dorsi free flaps, 13 anterolateral thigh free flaps, 12 dorsalis pedis free flaps, 8 transvers rectus abdominis free flaps, 7 gracillis free flaps, and 5 superficial temporal fascia free flaps. Total flap necrosis was seen in 8 cases(9.3%) and partial necrosis in 5 cases(5.8%). Secondary revision was done in 24 cases(27.9%) and the most common revision, debulking was done in 14 cases(16.3%). The authors has considered cosmetic aspects along with wound coverage and functional recovery in primary reconstruction. The results of aesthetic grading was 16.2 out of 20, and the secondary revision rate was reduced.

Correction of Secondary Cleft Lip Deformities by Scar Excision and Abbe Flap Coverage: Photogrammetric Analysis

PURPOSE: The Abbe flap procedure has been used to correct disharmony of the upper and lower lips as well as for making a philtrum for patients with secondary cleft lip deformities. But the Abbe flap procedure adds two scars in addition to the prior operative scar on the upper lip. This study was conducted to determine the treatment outcomes of esthetic subunit excision of the scar on the philtrum and Abbe flap coverage for correction of cleft lip deformities with photogrammetric analysis. METHODS: This study investigated a total of 11 patients with cleft lip deformities who underwent scar excision with Abbe flap coverage, and the patients were followed up for at least 6 months. Under general anesthesia, a mushroom- shaped Abbe flap was drawn on the lower lip with a width of 8 mm and a height 1~2mm longer than that of the philtral midline. The epidermis and dermis of the scar on the upper lip were excised. In the cases with alar base depression, the orbicularis oris muscle was split vertically and transposed to the alar base. The Abbe flap was harvested as a pedicled flap containing a small amount of muscle and this was rotated 180-degree to be inserted into the upper lip. Mucosa, muscle, subcutaneous tissue and skin were closed in layers. The flap was divided at the 7~14 postoperative day. The postoperative outcomes were evaluated by using photogrammetric analysis. Three indices were measured from the standard clinical photographs taken before and after the surgery. For anthroposcopic assessment, observers described the postoperative outcomes using an ordinary scale method. RESULTS: The postoperative values obtained in the photogrammetric analysis showed improvement as compared with the preoperative ones. Improved anthroposcopic outcomes were also noted. CONCLUSION: Scar excision and Abbe flap coverage were proven to be effective in improving protrusion and the height of the upper lip, the scar of the upper lip and the symmetry of Cupid's bow and the philtral column, as well as formation of the philtral dimple.

Rhinoplasty using Various Autogenous Tissues

PURPOSE: In Korean rhinoplasty, alloplasts such as silicone rubber have been used for dorsal and tip augmentations. However, alloplasts have produced complications such as deviation, exposure, and infection. Although autogenous tissue is an ideal material, the amount of the cartilage in Korean is not sufficient. Therefore, the authors developed a method to harvest the maximum amount of the septal and conchal cartilage. The authors first performed a complete septal extension graft for short and retruded columella and then performed nasal augmentation using various autogenous tissues. METHODS: These surgical techniques were performed on 11 patients. Their average age was 27 years. An open approach with a V-shaped columellar labial incision was performed. At first, the complete septal extension graft was fixed on the entire caudal margin of the septum, and the alar cartilage was suspended to the septal extension graft to make the tip projected and the columella advanced caudally. A temporal fascial ball was used for radix augmentation. For dorsal augmentation, a batten-shaped septal cartilage graft wrapped with or without the temporal fascia or a diced cartilage graft wrapped with the temporal fascia was performed. For nasal tip augmentation, a shield graft and a cap graft or a folded conchal cartilage graft was performed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 11.2 months. The overall results were natural and satisfactory. Two patients underwent slight absorption and caudal displacement. With the exception of these cases, no complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Korean rhinoplastic surgeons are accustomed to using the alloplasts despite of serious complications. When rhinoplasty using autogenous tissue was performed, some complications occurred such as the displacement of the diced cartilage graft wrapped with the fascia, but many of the complications of alloplastic rhinoplasty were avoided. Therefore, we propose that by this time Korean rhinoplastic surgeons need to change their preference from alloplastic rhinoplasty to autogenous rhinoplasty.

Comparison of Treatment Effect of the Dried Bovine Amniotic Membrane and the Cultured Allogenic Keratinocytes in the Partial Thickness Burn Management

PURPOSE: In the partial thickness burn management, despite of several advantages, the use of human amniotic membrane has been limited. The authors applied dried bovine amniotic membrane(DBAM) to overcome disadvantages of amniotic membrane for partial thickness burn and to compare the effectiveness of cultured allogenic keratinocytes(CAK) that have been recently used for the management of burn. METHODS: From August 2007 to May 2008, 16 patients with partial thickness burn were assigned to this study. The ages ranged from 12 to 59, with the average of 38. Either DBAM or CAK were applied, and the secondary dressing was removed on the following day. To compare treatment effect, time for epithelization, Vancouver scar scale and chromameteric results were evaluated. RESULTS: The time for epithelization was 10.1 days and 9.1 days in DBAM and CAK, respectively, which are shorter than the previous 2-3 weeks. At the follow up Vancouver scar scale was 2.8 in DBAM and 3.0 points in CAK, both of which showed good results. The results of chromameter showed that the L*, a*, and b* values of the area applied DBAM were 60.1, 13.6, and 13.3, respectively, and the values of the area applied CAK were 60.1, 12.4, and 12.4, respectively. It was found that the skin color of the healed area after burn was darker, the redness was higher, and the yellowness was lower. After dressing, no significant side effects were observed, and in the cases of applying CAK, it was inconvenient as the moving area had to be fixed. CONCLUSION: As CAK, DBAM has several advantages such as the shortening of the epithelization period, reduction of scar and pigmentation, and convenient application, etc., it is an effective method for the partial thickness burn management.

A Case of Disseminated Multiple Glomus Tumors

PURPOSE: Glomus tumors are neoplasms that are composed of modified smooth muscle cells of the glomus body and multiple glomus tumor comprises 10% of all glomus tumors. We report a case of disseminated multiple glomus tumors. METHODS: A 14-year-old boy presented with multiple subcutaneous purple nodules on the right cheek, back, right arm, right hand dorsum, right fourth finger, and left ankle. Nodules on the back and right fourth finger were completely excised under local anesthesia and histopathologic examination was followed. RESULTS: Histopathologic findings showed numerous dilated, cavernous-like, thin-walled vascular spaces surrounded by one or a few layers of glomus cells. On immunohistochemical examination, glomus cells stain for smooth muscle actin, and endothelial cells stain for CD31. Those revealed multiple glomangiomas. CONCLUSION: A review of Korean literature revealed only one reported case of disseminated multiple glomus tumors, so this is the second case to be reported in the Korean literature. In case of multiple soft tissue tumors, thorough physical examination and preoperative evaluation are needed.