OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in seat-interface pressure in wheelchair seated spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Twenty-six spinal cord injured patients, who were motor complete tetraplegic and paraplegic patients, were included in this study. After 5 cm air-filled cushion (ROHO(R)) was placed on their own wheelchair seat, patients were seated on wheelchair with neutral position for sixty minutes. The interface pressure and contact area of buttock was measured every 5 minutes. RESULTS: Significant increases of interface pressure were found in maximal and mean interface pressure during 0 to 25 minutes of sitting (p<0.05). An increased tendency of contact area of buttock was observed during sitting time but it was not significant. CONCLUSION: There were no significant changes of interface pressure after 25 minutes of sitting in spinal cord injured patients. Therefore, twenty-five minutes may be a reasonable sitting time before interface pressure is recorded.
Buttocks ; Humans ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Wheelchairs

Morel-Lavallée is a rare lesion caused by post-traumatic soft tissue injury. It usually occurs around the greater trochanter, and it occurs very rarely in the lumbar region. It is often difficult to be diagnosed in the emergency room. Delayed diagnosis may result in the need for open surgery. The authors report a patient with extensive multiple Morel-Lavallée lesions in the thoracolumbar, buttock, and thigh after trauma and provide a literature review.
Buttocks ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Femur ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Thigh

The management of skin and soft tissue defects on the buttock, perineum and lower abdomen has been improved through the development of myocutaneous flap. However, sacrifice of the deep muscles causes some problems such as intraoperative bleeding and functional disabilities of donor sites. And we can not also control the volume of the flap for the skin reliability of myocutaneous flaps. To overcome these disadvantages, we tried perforator-based myocutaneous island flaps for the reconstruction of the sacral, ischial sores or deep wounds of the perineum and lower abdomen. During the dissection of the flap, we could control the volume and shape of the flap exactly depending on the perforators. Clinically, total of 14 cases were treated with 10 parasacral perforator-based myocutaneous island flaps and 4 perforator-based extended myocutaneous island flaps. Parasacral flap is based on the parasacral perforators along the lateral sacral border and, the degree of containing muscles can be easily decided according to the depth of wound. In the cases of the extended myocutaneous flaps, we could design the perforator-based skin flap on the tip of myocutaneous island flap and appropriate volume of skin falp was obtained with the wide arc of rotation. Finally, the donor defect could be closed primarily and there was no significant sequela. There perforator-based myocutaneous island flaps require no significant sacrifice of the muscles and can be easily dissected and applied with the appropriate volumes for the reconstruction of the defect on the buttocks, perineum and lower abdomen.
Abdomen ; Buttocks ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Muscles ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Perineum ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Donors ; Wounds and Injuries*

OBJECTIVE: To identify the pressure relieving effect of adding a pelvic well pad, a firm pad that is cut in the ischial area, to a wheelchair cushion on the ischium. METHODS: Medical records of 77 individuals with SCI, who underwent interface pressure mapping of the buttock-thigh area, were retrospectively reviewed. The pelvic well pad is a 2.5-cm thick firm pad and has a cut in the ischial area. Expecting additional pressure relief, it can be inserted under a wheelchair cushion. Subjects underwent interface pressure mapping in the subject's wheelchair utilizing the subject's pre-existing pressure relieving cushion and subsequently on a combination of a pelvic well pad and the cushion. The average pressure, peak pressure, and contact area of the buttock-thigh were evaluated. RESULTS: Adding a pelvic well pad, under the pressure relieving cushion, resulted in a decrease in the average and peak pressures and increase in the contact area of the buttock-thigh area when compared with applying only pressure relieving cushions (p < 0.05). The mean of the average pressure decreased from 46.10±10.26 to 44.09±9.92 mmHg and peak pressure decreased from 155.03±48.02 to 131.42±45.86 mmHg when adding a pelvic well pad. The mean of the contact area increased from 1,136.44±262.46 to 1,216.99±255.29 cm². CONCLUSION: When a pelvic well pad was applied, in addition to a pre-existing pressure relieving cushion, the average and peak pressures of the buttock-thigh area decreased and the contact area increased. These results suggest that adding a pelvic well pad to wheelchair cushion may be effective in preventing a pressure ulcer of the buttock area.
Buttocks ; Ischium ; Medical Records ; Pressure Ulcer ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Wheelchairs*

OBJECTIVE: To find most effective pressure relief method in wheelchair seated spinal cord injured patients and to evaluate effectiveness of trunk lateral bending, trunk pulling and trunk forward flexion methods in practical environment METHOD: Twenty spinal cord injury patients were included in this study. After 5 cm air-filled cushion (ROHO(R)) was placed on wheelchair seat, patients were seated on wheelchair with neurtal position and interface pressure of buttock was measured by X-sensor 4.0 system. Patients took a posture lateral bending, trunk pulling, forward flexion methods. Mean and maximal pressure of buttock were measured at each pressure relief methods. RESULTS: Mean and maximal pressure of buttock were reduced by 90degrees trunk forward flexion (p<0.05). In trunk lateral bending method, pressure was reduced in non-weight bearing side of buttock, but pressure was highly elevated in weight bearing side. In trunk pulling method, pressure was elevated in both weigth bearing and non-weight bearing side. CONCLUSION: 90degrees trunk forward flexion method can be recommended to wheelchiar seated spinal cord injured patients for pressure relief of buttock.
Buttocks ; Humans ; Posture ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord* ; Weight-Bearing ; Wheelchairs*

Multiple myeloma manifestated by necrotizing fasciitis is quite rare. Most of the patients affected with necrotizing fasciitis have some risk factors : Chronic general or local diseases, leukoenia, immunodeficiency diseases, malignancy, and an age of 50 years or more. We have experienced a case of necrotizing fasciitis associated with multiple myeloma presented as jaundice, pain, swelling of right buttock, ab-domiminal distension in 65-year-old man. His general status was improved after incision and drainage of wound and systemic chemotherapy. We recommend that multiple myeloma should be considered if necrotizing fasciitis is diagnosed.
Aged ; Buttocks ; Drainage ; Drug Therapy ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Risk Factors ; Wounds and Injuries

Any types of burn injury that involve more than deep dermis often require reconstructive treatment. In gluteal region, V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flap is frequently used to cover the defect. However, in case of large burn wounds, this kind of flap cannot provide adequate coverage because of the lack of normal surrounding tissues. We suggest V-Y adipofascial flap using the surrounding superficially damaged tissue. We present the case of a patient who was referred for full-thickness burn on gluteal region. We performed serial debridement and applied vacuum-assisted closure device to defective area as wound preparation for coverage. When healthy granulation tissue grew adequately, we covered the defect with surrounding V-Y adipofascial flap and the raw surface of the flap was then covered with split-thickness skin graft. We think the use of subcutaneous fat as an adipofascial flap to cover the deeper defect adjacent to the flap is an excellent alternative especially in huge defect with uneven depth varying from subcutaneous fat to bone exposure in terms of minimal donor site morbidity and reliability of the flap. Even if the flap was not intact, it was reuse of the adjacent tissue of the injured area, so it is relatively safe and applicable.
Burns* ; Buttocks* ; Debridement ; Dermis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants* ; Wounds and Injuries

Congenital arteriovenous malformation is one of developmental anomaly of vascular system. Since the lesion consist of abundant vascular component, feeding arteries and draining vessels, most of the lesions show poor demarcation and even show invasion to the adjacent tissues. Because of this characteristics, management of this malformation is troublesome. Selective arterial embolization and excision of the lesion is one of the recommended management. We experienced congenital arteriovenous malformation at the buttock of 18 years old male patient. He had been performed multiple feeding arterial embolization using Histoacryl with lipiodol 2 years ago because of repeated bleeding. But that buttock bleeding recurred 2 years later. After confirmation of the lesion by MRI and angiogram, wide excision and ligation of feeding artery was done. The wound was repaired by posterior thigh flap.
Adolescent ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Buttocks* ; Enbucrilate ; Ethiodized Oil ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Thigh ; Wounds and Injuries

For treatment of the pressure sore, variable methods have been developed such as skin graft, local flap, myocutaneous or fasciocutaneous flap. The myocutaneous flap has been used commonly for the coverage and padding of the wound. However, sacrifice of the deep muscles causes some problems such as intraoperative bleeding, functional disabilities of donor sites, and difficulty in controling the volume of the flap for the skin reability of myocutaneous flaps. To overcome these disadvantages, we tried perforator-based myocutaeous island flaps for reconstruction of buttock area. During the dissection of the flap, we could control the volume and shape of the flap exactly depending on the perforator. And minimal morbidity of the donor site is expected because of significant volume of gluteus maximus muscle need not be sacrificed. The perforator-based flaps are especially indicated for ambulatory patients, and for paraplegic patients as well. Clinically, total of 20 cases were treated with 13 parasacral perforator-based myocutaneous island flaps and 7 parasacral perforator-based fasciocutaeous island flaps. The mean operating time was 84 minutes, and the mean flap size was 8x9.2 cm. In donor sites, primary closure were done in all cases, post operative complications were wound dishescence in 1 case, venous congestion in 3 cases, but immediately improved. Recurrence was not reported.
Buttocks ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Muscles ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: The gluteal artery perforator flaps earned its popularity in buttock reconstruction due to the lower morbidity of the donor site and the flexibility in the design. Speedy and safe reconstruction is important for the success of buttock reconstruction. If a proper design is selected, satisfactory results can be obtained with more simple method of surgery. METHODS: Between April 2005 and April 2006, buttock reconstruction by using gluteal artery perforator flaps were performed on sacral sores(6 cases), ischial sores(2 cases) and malignant melanoma on buttock(1 case). Various designs depending on the location and the size of the defect was made. In those designs, perforator was used as an axis for the minimal dissection of the vessel. Donor site from which sufficient amount of soft tissue can be transferred was selected, and also not causing high tension against the recipient site during the donor site closure. In addition, postoperative aesthetics, and the possibility of another design of a second operation which can be necessary in the future, was considered. RESULTS: Patient follow up was for a mean period of 10.8 months. All flaps survived except for one that had undergone partial necrosis. Wound dehiscence was observed in one patient treated by secondary closure. Most patients presented with cosmetically and functionally satisfying results CONCLUSION: By designing the flap using the perforator as an axis, depending on the defect size and degree, reconstruction can be performed with only a small tension to the donor and the recipient site. And the minimal perforator dissection allowed easier and faster reconstruction. Selection of a proper design is the key procedure which greatly affects operation time and result success.
Arteries* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Buttocks* ; Esthetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Necrosis ; Perforator Flap* ; Pliability ; Tissue Donors ; Wounds and Injuries