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Successful combination of local flaps for large palatal fistula closure
Author(s) -
Perry J.,
Bhopal S.,
Bharadwaj G.,
O'Regan B.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
oral surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.156
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1752-248X
pISSN - 1752-2471
DOI - 10.1111/ors.12171
Subject(s) - medicine , fistula , buccal fat pad , surgery , dentistry , hard palate , rotation flap , closure (psychology) , buccal administration , economics , market economy
The closure of large palatal fistulae may challenge oral and maxillofacial surgeons especially when considering subsequent prosthetic requirements. Surgical procedures used to reconstruct palatal defects include prostheses, local flaps, distant flaps, bone grafting and allografts. We present a case of successful closure of a large post‐resection palatal fistula using a combination of three established techniques. Closure of the superior naso‐antral layer was completed using Fickling's inkwell technique. The resultant large defect was closed using a ‘tadpole’ rotational palatal flap combined with a buccal fat pad advancement to secure the unsupported lateral aspect of the rotation flap and remaining denuded bone of the left hard palate. The fistula remains closed four years after surgery. This report demonstrates the effective combination of three local intra‐oral flaps as a single‐stage, low‐risk method of closing a large palatal fistula.