PURPOSE: To present the author's experience using the anterolateral thigh island flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defects around the hip and perineum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proximal based anterolateral thigh island flaps were performed to reconstruct the soft tissue defects at the perineum (3 patients) and the greater trochanter of the hip (one patient) in 4 patients. All patients were male. Mean age was 43 years (range, 32 to 50 years) and mean follow-up was 8 months (range, 6 to 13 months). The causes of the defects were traffic accident in 2 cases, necrotizing fasciitis 1 case, and pressure sore 1 case. Average size of the flap was 14x9 cm. Fasciocutaneous flaps were performed in 3 patients and musculocutaneous flap was performed in one patient. RESULTS: All flaps were survived. There were no necrosis of the flaps. One flap presented venous congestion after surgery, which resolved with the decompression of the pedicle. Reconstruction with the anterolateral thigh island flap resulted in no recurrence of the infection or ulcer and good esthetic contour. CONCLUSION: The anterolateral thigh island flap is a reliable flap for reconstruction around the perineum and hip joint.
Accidents, Traffic ; Decompression ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Male ; Necrosis ; Perineum ; Pressure Ulcer ; Recurrence ; Surgical Flaps ; Thigh ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: We wanted to assess the short term clinical outcomes and the effectiveness of reverse total shoulder replacement for massive rotator cuff tears with cuff tear arthropathy in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2007 and January 2009, 17 reverse total shoulder arthroplasties were performed on patients with an average age of 69.3 (58-80) years. The follow up period was an average of 17.9 (12-32) months. The outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale, the range of motion, the muscle strength, the Constant score, the UCLA score and the Korea shoulder score. We performed radiological measurements of medialization of the center of rotation, distalization of the humerus, and tilting of the inferior glenoid on the preoperative and postoperative radiographs. RESULTS: The VAS improved from 7.2+/-3.6 preoperatively to 1.6+/-1.0 postoperatively. The average preoperative active forward fl exion was 51.5+/-28.4 degrees, which improved to 131.5+/-20.7 degrees at the final follow-up. The internal rotation was deteriorated from L2 to L5 (p<0.001, 0.001, 0.011). The average Constant score improved from 23.9+/-5.1 points before surgery to 62.2+/-9.1 points at the time of follow-up and the UCLA score and KSS score also rose from 7.6+/-2.4 and 27.0+/-7.5 points to 26.3+/-3.6 and 69.2+/-10.4 points respectively, which were statistically significant. For the radiological measurements, the medialization of rotation of the center was a mean of 20.6 mm+/-4.3 and the distalization of the humerus was a mean 22.8 mm+/-5.56. The glenoid inferior tilting increased a mean of 12.1+/-4.3 degrees. Inferior scapular notching was observed in two cases. CONCLUSION: The reverse total shoulder arthroplasty produced good results when used for the treatment of massive rotator cuff tear and cuff tear arthropathy. Forward fl exion was significantly improved, but on the contrary internal rotation was deteriorated. Considering the technical difficulties and the possibility of complications, the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty should be judiciously used by expert surgeons.
Aged ; Arthroplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Korea ; Muscle Strength ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder

PURPOSE: To report the clinical results and efficacies of one stage reverse lateral supramalleolar adipofascial flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the foot and ankle joint. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed 5 cases of one stage reverse lateral supramalleolar adipofascial flap from Jan 2005 to Sept 2005. All patients were males and mean age was 50(36~59) years old. The causes of soft tissue defects were 1 diabetic foot, 2 crushing injuries of the foot, 1 open fracture of the calcaneus, and 1 chronic osteomyelitis of the medial cuneiform bone. Average size of the flap was 3.6(3~4)x4.6(4~6) cm. All flaps were harvested as adipofascial flap and were performed with the split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) above the flaps simultaneously. RESULTS: All flap survived completely and good taking of STSG on the flap was achieved in all cases. There were no venous congestion and marginal necrosis of the flap. In diabetic foot case, wound was healed at 4 weeks after surgery due to wound infection. There was no contracture on the grafted sites. Ankle and toe motion were not restricted at last follow up. All patients did not have difficulty in wearing shoes. CONCLUSION: The reverse lateral supramalleolar adipofascial flap and STSG offers a valuable option for repair of exposure of the tendon and bone around the ankle and foot. Also one stage procedure with STSG can give more advantages than second stage with FTSG, such as good and fast take-up, early ambulation and physical therapy, and good functional result.
Ankle Joint* ; Ankle* ; Calcaneus ; Contracture ; Diabetic Foot ; Early Ambulation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot* ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Male ; Necrosis ; Osteomyelitis ; Shoes ; Skin ; Tarsal Bones ; Tendons ; Toes ; Transplants ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries