Purpose: A fourth degree burn is a full-thickness burn of the skin usually accompanied by damage to deep structures and commonly results in extensive damage to surrounding tissues which makes the treatment of the wound difficult. Coverage of these wound using free flap is known to effective but not commonly used. The purpose of our study is to review our experience and suggest early application of free flap surgery. Methods: A retrospective review was performed from 2010 to 2019, on a total of 34 fourth degree burn patients undergone free flap surgery as primary treatment in our hospital. We reviewed the location of the injury, etiology, TBSA (%), Presence of osteomyelitis, flap choice, complications, period of injury to surgery and healing. Results: Using free flap as a primary reconstrcuction, the outcome is satisfactory. The treatment period was shortened, and there was less loss of function due to complications. Also the incidence of osteomyelitis and amputation was significantly low. Conclusion Applying free flap surgery as soon as possible in fourth degree burns is effective, such as reducing complications such as infection, reducing amputation, shortening treatment period, and preventing severe sequelae.

BACKGROUND: Age-related changes in facial skin is a major concern in women. This study aimed to objectively evaluate normal skin elasticity and age-related differences in the faces of East Asian women. There are no standard values for data related to normal skin on East Asian women. METHODS: We studied 129 healthy East Asian women without a history of cosmetic procedures or surgeries. Skin elasticity was assessed at the cheek and lower eyelid points, which were assessed on both the right and left sides of the face. RESULTS: The age of the subjects showed significant negative correlations with the R2 and R7 parameters, which represent skin elasticity after deformation. CONCLUSION: We therefore concluded that the primary decrease in skin elasticity in East Asian women occurs in the midface region.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cheek ; Elasticity ; Eyelids ; Female ; Humans ; Rejuvenation ; Skin Aging ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Abbé flap technique is one of the most challenging operations to correct horizontal deficiencies in secondary cleft lip deformity. Since its first introduction, the operative method was dynamically modified from simple variation to complete conceptual change, but conventional Abbé flap has many drawbacks in esthetic and functional aspect. Our purpose was reconstructing the symmetry of Cupid's bow and central vermilion tubercle with minimal sequalae. METHODS: From 2008 to 2016, this technique was applied to 16 secondary cleft lip patients who had total or more than 60% of unilateral deficiency of Cupid's bow and central lip or tubercle pouting deficiency. A quadrangular-shaped flap was transferred from vermilion including skin and white line of central or contralateral lower lip. Pedicle division and insetting were made at 9 (unilateral) or 10 (bilateral) days after transfer. Secondary lip revision was done with open rhinoplasty after wound maturation. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction was high with modified technique. Scar was minimally noticeable on both upper and lower lip especially. Balanced Cupid's bow and symmetric vermilion tubercle were made with relatively small size of flap compared to conventional Abbé flap. An accompanying benefit was reduced ectropion of lower lip, which made balanced upper and lower lip protrusion with more favorable profile. CONCLUSION: A new modified Abbé flap technique showed great satisfaction. It is worth considering in secondary cleft lip patient who has central lip shortage and asymmetry of upper lip vermilion border line. Our technique is one of the substitutes for correction of horizontal and central lip deficiency with asymmetric Cupid's bow.
Cicatrix ; Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Ectropion ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Lip ; Methods ; Rhinoplasty ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Wounds and Injuries

Intraoperative expansion has been used to cover small to large defects without disadvantages of the conventional tissue expanders. Various materials, for example, expanders and Foley catheters are being used. We introduce a new, convenient and economical device immediately available in the operating room, according to the defect size for intraoperative expansion, with latex gloves or balloons. The retrospective study was done with 20 patients who presented with skin and soft tissue defects. During the operation, expansion was done with latex gloves or balloons inflated with saline through an intravenous line and a three-way stopcock. After the inflation, the glove was removed and skin was covered with expanded tissue. A careful decision was made regarding the inflation volume and placement of the expander according to the defect size. There were no postoperative complications. The skin contracture and tension was minimal with a texture similar to the adjacent tissue. The new intraoperative expansion devices with latex gloves and balloons were cheap and made easily right in the operation room. The reconstruction of small to large sized skin defects can be done successfully, functionally and aesthetically without using expensive commercial materials.
Catheters ; Contracture ; Equipment and Supplies ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Latex ; Operating Rooms ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tissue Expansion ; Tissue Expansion Devices

Inevitable immobilization after surgery on lower extremities can induce chronic constipation. Elderly diabetic women usually express ambiguous gastrointestinal symptoms and signs. We present here a case of panperitonitis developed from severe fecal impaction in an elderly diabetic woman after hand reconstruction using material harvested from the lower extremities. A 68-year-old diabetic female underwent anterolateral thigh free flap and wound revision twice on the left thumb. Three weeks after surgery, she complained about mild abdominal pain though she had daily defecation. Despite encouraging ambulation, her compliance was low. Resection of the sigmoid colon and colostomy were performed after diagnosis with bowel perforation. However, the patient went into septic shock and died with multiorgan failure after the guardians issued a DNR (do not resuscitate) order. For preventing bowel perforation, increased uptake of dietary fiber and early ambulation postoperatively should be encouraged, after even hand surgeries.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colostomy ; Compliance ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Diabetes Complications ; Diagnosis ; Dietary Fiber ; Disabled Persons ; Early Ambulation ; Fecal Impaction ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Hand ; Humans ; Immobilization* ; Lower Extremity ; Shock, Septic ; Thigh* ; Thumb* ; Walking ; Wounds and Injuries

Esophageal perforation is a rare but potentially fatal complication of robot-assisted thyroidectomy (RAT). Herein, we report the long-term outcome of an esophageal reconstruction with a jejunal free flap for esophageal rupture after RAT. A 33-year-old woman developed subcutaneous emphysema and hoarseness on postoperative day1 following RAT. Esophageal rupture was diagnosed by computed tomography and endoscopy, and immediate surgical exploration confirmed esophageal rupture, as well as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. We performed a jejunal free flap repair of the 8-cm defect in the esophagus. End-to-side microvascular anastomoses were created between the right external carotid artery and the jejunal branches of the superior mesenteric artery, and end-to-end anastomosis was performed between the external jugular vein and the jejunal vein. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was repaired with a 4-cm nerve graft from the right ansa cervicalis. Esophagography at 1 year after surgery confirmed that there were no leaks or structures, endoscopy at 1 year confirmed the resolution of vocal cord paralysis, and there were no residual problems with swallowing or speech at a 5-year follow-up examination. RAT requires experienced surgeons with a thorough knowledge of anatomy, as well as adequate resources to quickly and competently address potentially severe complications such as esophageal rupture.
Adult ; Animals ; Carotid Artery, External ; Deglutition ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Perforation ; Esophagus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Jugular Veins ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Microsurgery ; Rats ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries ; Rupture* ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Surgeons ; Thyroidectomy* ; Transplants ; Veins ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

BACKGROUND: Midface concavity is a relatively common facial feature in East Asian populations. Paranasal augmentation is becoming an increasingly popular procedure for patients with mild concavity and normal occlusion. In this study, we evaluate clinical outcomes following a series of paranasal augmentation. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for patients with Class I occlusion who had undergone bilateral paranasal augmentation using custom-made silicone implants, between October 2005 and September 2013. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic information, concomitant operations, and postoperative complications. Preoperative and postoperative (1-month) photographs were used to evaluate operative outcome. RESULTS: The review identified a total of 93 patients meeting study criteria. Overall, aesthetic outcomes were satisfactory. Five-millimeter thick silicone implant was used in 81 cases, and the mean augmentation was 4.26 mm for this thickness. Among the 93 patients, 2 patients required immediate implant removal due to discomfort. An additional 3 patients experienced implant migration without any extrusion. Nine patients complained of transient paresthesia, which had resolved by 2 weeks. There were no cases of hematoma or infection. All patients reported improvement in their lateral profile and were pleased at follow-up. Complications that arose postoperatively included 9 cases of numbness in the upper lip and 3 cases of implant migration. All cases yielded satisfactory results without persisting complications. Sensations were fully restored postoperatively after 1 to 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: Paranasal augmentation with custom-made silicone implants is a simple, safe, and inexpensive method that can readily improve the lateral profile of a patient with normal occlusion. When combined with other aesthetic procedures, paranasal augmentation can synergistically improve outcome and lead to greater patient satisfaction.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Lip ; Paresthesia ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensation ; Silicon* ; Silicones*

BACKGROUND: Defects of the cheek present a reconstructive challenge because of the visibility of the site, as well as the limited local tissue supply. In addition, the cheek abuts several structures with expressive function, such as the eye, mouth, and surrounding facial musculature. This report describes a system of classifying cheek defects according to tumor size and location and present corresponding reconstruction techniques used to accomplish three-dimensional restoration of all missing components and adequate texture matching. METHODS: From 2008 to 2013, 27 patients with cheek defects resulting from skin cancer excision were treated. According to the size of the defect, location on the cheek, and relationships to adjacent structures and existing skin tension lines, different surgical methods were applied. RESULTS: The procedures used for cheek reconstruction included direct closure, Limberg flap, V-Y advancement flap, slide-swing flap, cheek rotation flap, and full-thickness skin graft. All flaps healed well without major complications, and no cancer recurrence was detected during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic classification of skin cancers and surgical protocols described in this report is simple and appropriate for reconstruction involving the cheek. Wide excision of skin cancer and appropriate, relatively easy-to-perform flaps based on this classification system can successfully produce safe and aesthetically-pleasing surgical outcomes.
Cheek* ; Classification ; Esthetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mouth ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Recurrence ; Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin* ; Surgical Flaps ; Transplants

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) with the ExAblate Conformal Bone System for the palliation of painful bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our Institutional Review Board approved this study, and all patients gave informed consent prior to enrollment. A total of six painful metastatic bone lesions in five patients were treated using MRgFUS with the ExAblate Conformal Bone System for pain palliation. The follow-up sessions were at 3 days, 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months, and 1 year after treatment. Efficacy was evaluated by the changes in visual analog scale (VAS) scores. At 3-months and 1-year follow-ups, unenhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced MR imaging examinations were performed. All adverse events were assessed to evaluate treatment safety. RESULTS: All patients showed significant pain relief within 2 weeks. Two patients experienced complete pain reduction that lasted for 1 year. Two other patients showed pain relief measured as VAS scores of 2 and 4 on their last follow-up. Although the remaining patient had experienced significant pain relief in two lesions, the VAS score re-increased on his last follow-up. The size of the enhancing soft tissue mass in metastatic lesions decreased, and new bone formation was seen on follow-up images. Although adverse events were not serious, non-specific leg pain and second degree skin burn were noted. CONCLUSION: MRgFUS was demonstrated to be effective palliative treatment within 2 weeks in selected patients with painful bone metastases.
Adult ; Aged ; Bone Neoplasms/secondary/*therapy ; Contrast Media ; Female ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation/adverse effects/*methods ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; *Pain Management ; *Palliative Care ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) with the ExAblate Conformal Bone System for the palliation of painful bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our Institutional Review Board approved this study, and all patients gave informed consent prior to enrollment. A total of six painful metastatic bone lesions in five patients were treated using MRgFUS with the ExAblate Conformal Bone System for pain palliation. The follow-up sessions were at 3 days, 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months, and 1 year after treatment. Efficacy was evaluated by the changes in visual analog scale (VAS) scores. At 3-months and 1-year follow-ups, unenhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced MR imaging examinations were performed. All adverse events were assessed to evaluate treatment safety. RESULTS: All patients showed significant pain relief within 2 weeks. Two patients experienced complete pain reduction that lasted for 1 year. Two other patients showed pain relief measured as VAS scores of 2 and 4 on their last follow-up. Although the remaining patient had experienced significant pain relief in two lesions, the VAS score re-increased on his last follow-up. The size of the enhancing soft tissue mass in metastatic lesions decreased, and new bone formation was seen on follow-up images. Although adverse events were not serious, non-specific leg pain and second degree skin burn were noted. CONCLUSION: MRgFUS was demonstrated to be effective palliative treatment within 2 weeks in selected patients with painful bone metastases.
Adult ; Aged ; Bone Neoplasms/secondary/*therapy ; Contrast Media ; Female ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation/adverse effects/*methods ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional/*methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; *Pain Management ; *Palliative Care ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult