The latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous flap is one of the most useful flaps in reconstructive surgery. This flap has many advantages, such as its reliable anatomy, long pedicle with large caliber vessels, minimal functional deficit of the donor site, and low incidence of donor site complications. However, the bulkiness of the flap has been considered a disadvantage, so various modifications of technique have been devised. The cutaneous portion of the flap can be safely elevated based on the cutaneous perforating branch of the thoracodorsal vessel. From March 1997 to February 1998, 10 patients underwent reconstructive procedures with thoracodorsal perforator-based free flaps. The composition of the flaps varied in accordance with the nature of the defect. The variances in the flaps were as follows; 3 were cutaneous, 6 musculocutaneous, and 1 osteomusculocutaneous including the rib. All flaps survived with good contour. We concluded that this thin and reliable flap was useful for reconstruction of various defects, and that the composition of the flap, such as subcutaneous, muscle and bone, gave it considerable flexibility as needed.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Pliability ; Ribs ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Tissue Donors

For the reconstruction of various tissue defects, free tissue transfer has been a very popular method in recent years. A large thin flap is required for aesthetic and functional resurfacing of the extremity defects. As a result, anterolateral thigh free flap has been thought to be useful in reconstructing soft tissue defects requiring thin flap coverage of extremities. The anterolateral thigh flap is a septocutaneous flap based on the septocutaneous or musculocutaneous perforators of the lateral femoral circumflex system. It supplies a large area of skin on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. The advantages of this flap are safe elevation, a long vascular pedicle, and large caliber vessel. The donor scar is inconspicuous and it could also be used in a sensated flap. From September 1996 to December 1997, 16 cases of soft tissue defect on extremities were resurfaced with anterolateral thigh free flap and the outcomes were satisfactory. This flap is considered useful in one-stage reconstruction of large soft tissue defects of extremities.
Cicatrix ; Equipment and Supplies ; Extremities* ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Skin ; Thigh* ; Tissue Donors

Facial clefts are uncommon congenital deformities in comparison to the clefts of the lip and palate. the clinical expression of the craniofacial clefts is highly variable. the face can be marred by a faint expression of the cleft or be disfigured by a full representation of the defect. the extent of the soft tissue and skeletal components is also variable, and they are seldom affected to an equal degree. Generally, discription of the clefts are based on the bony malformation, since the skeletal landmarks tend to be more constant. I report six cases of rare craniofacial clefts that I recently experienced. the soft tissue repair was accomplished with local flaps from cheek, eyelid and nose. Additional vertical length was obtained from the lower Z-plasty flaps in the sutures. the coloboma was corrected with local flaps and a cartilage graft, the depression of cheek with a dermofat graft, and the macrostomia with the repositioning of orbicularls oris muscle and a Z-plasty. the results were cosmetically acceptable.
Cartilage ; Cheek ; Coloboma ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Depression ; Eyelids ; Lip ; Macrostomia ; Nose ; Palate ; Sutures ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Macrophages* ; Methylcellulose*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Eyelids*

No abstract available.
Burns* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Animals ; Enalapril* ; Nicardipine* ; Nitroprusside* ; Rats* ; Skin*

Calvarium protects the brain, the most important organ. The defect of calvarium results in not only deformity but also fatal injury from the trauma. The cranial bone defects result from 1) removal of bone flap for intracranial decompression or infection 2) fracture 3) excision of tumor 4) craniectomy for craniosynostosis. The goals of cranioplasty are to protect the brain from trauma and make the aesthetically acceptable contour. From 1990 to 1995, we experienced twelve cases of cranioplasty using autogenous bone graft; 5 cases with rib bone, 3 cases with iliac bone, 2 cases with calvarial bone, and 2 cases with rib and calvarial bones. The result was very excellent without any significant complications.
Brain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses ; Decompression ; Ribs ; Skull ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Axilla* ; Female* ; Humans ; Neck*

No abstract available.
Salivary Ducts*