How did rehabilitation professionals act when faced with the Great East Japan earthquake and disaster? Descriptive epidemiology of disability and an interim report of the relief activities of the ten Rehabilitation-Related Organizations.

Objective: Inter-organizational coordination is important for rehabilitation disaster relief. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Disaster was unprecedented, being geographically widespread and multifaceted. Faced with the crisis, rehabilitation professionals established the 10 Rehabilitation-Related Organizations of Rehabilitation Support Service (10-RRO).

Concept and anatomical basis of microdissected tailoring method for free flap transfer.

Background: For a refined microsurgical reconstruction, it is desirable to adjust the flap to fit the three-dimensional details of the defect. Essentially, each vessel arborized in the subcutaneous adipose tissue supplies axial blood flow to an individual small area surrounding the vessel. Therefore, free alteration of the flap would be possible if the anatomy of these branches could be identified during surgery.

Clinical application and refinement of the microdissected thin groin flap transfer operation.

A microdissected thin groin flap is a uniform thin flap with a long vascular pedicle prepared by microdissection of the deep branch of the superficial circumflex femoral system (SCIS). However, the safe dimensions of the flap are not known, and anatomical variations of the SCIS sometimes impede elevation of the flap based on the deep branch. Therefore, modifications of the operation and accumulation of empirical knowledge are required for safe preparation of the flap.

Free microdissected thin groin flap design with an extended vascular pedicle.

Background: The senior author has developed a method of microdissection whereby a thin perforator flap can be elevated accurately in a single-stage procedure. Recently, the authors also applied the microdissection technique to the inguinal area and elevated microdissected thin groin flap.

Methods: In preparation of the flap, the perforator penetrating the fascia of the sartorius muscle is initially detected suprafascially, and then the deep adipose and subfascial layer of the inguinal area is dissected using an operating microscope.

Recovery of disused replanted digits by second toe hemipulp flap transfer.

Background: Amputation of the distal phalanx is the most common among all mutilation injuries. Generally, it has been believed that the prognosis of this type of amputation is satisfactory; however, disuse of digits because of severe atrophy and sensory disturbances is frequently observed in the follow-up period.

Methods: The authors intended to use the second toe hemipulp flap for recovery of these disused digits and transferred the flaps to eight severely atrophic postreplanted digits.