• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.455-459
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• 2003

The Reconstructive techniques of palatal defect are palatal island flap, palatal mucoperiosteal expansion, buccal flap, tongue flap, pushback palatoplasty, free flap and so on. We report a reconstruction of palatal defect using palatal flap. Excellent results were obtained by palatal connective tissue island flap and split thickness pedicle flap. Healing of defect occured rapidly. There were no postoperative complications except dull pain.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2011

Purpose: A palatal defect following maxillectomy can cause multiple problems like the rhinolalia, leakage of foods into the nasal cavity, and hypernasality. Use of a prosthetic is the preferred method for obturating a palate defect, but for rehabilitating palatal function, prosthetics have many shortcomings. In a small defect, local flap is a useful method, however, the size of flap which can be elevated is limited. In 12 cases of palatomaxillary defect, we used various microvascular free flaps in reconstructing the palate and obtained good functional results. Method: Between 1990 and 2004, 12 patients underwent free flap operation after head and neck cancer ablation, and were reviewed retrospectively. Among the 12 free flaps, 6 were latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, 3 rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, and 3 radial forearm flaps. Result: All microvascular flap surgery was successful. Mean follow up time was 8 months and after the follow up time all patients reported satisfactory speech and swallowing. Wound dehiscence was observed in 4 cases, ptosis was in 1 case and fistula was in 1 case, however, rhinolalia, leakage of food, or swallowing difficultly was not reported in the 12 cases. Conclusion: We used various microvascular flaps for palatomaxillary reconstruction. For 3-dimensional flap needs, we used the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap to obtain enough volume for filling the defect. Two-dimensional flaps were designed with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, rectus abdominis flap and radial forearm flap. For cases with palatal defect only, we used the radial forearm flap. In palatomaxillary reconstruction, we can choose various free flap techniques according to the number of skin paddles and flap volume needed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.39
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• pp.24.1-24.6
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• 2017

Background: Tunneled transposition of the facial artery myomucosal (FAMM) island flap on the lingual side of the mandible has been reported for intraoral as well as oropharyngeal reconstruction. This modified technique overcomes the limitations of short range and dentition and further confirms the flexibility of the flap. This paper presents a case of reconstructing secondary soft palatal defect due to flap necrosis following two-flap palatoplasty in irradiated patient with lingually transposed facial artery myomucosal island flap. Case presentation: The authors successfully reconstructed secondary soft palatal defect due to flap necrosis following two-flap palatoplasty in an irradiated 59-year-old female patient with tunnelized-facial artery myomucosal island flap (t-FAMMIF). Conclusions: Islanding and tunneling modification extends the versatility of the FAMM flap in the reconstruction of soft palatal defects post tumor excision and even after radiation, giving a great range of rotation and eliminating the need for revision in a second stage procedure. The authors thus highly recommend this versatile flap for the reconstruction of small and medium-sized oral defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2017

Background The prevalence of flap necrosis after palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate. The prevalence of mucoperiosteal flap necrosis after palatoplasty remains unknown, and this complication is rare. This event is highly undesirable for both the patient and the surgeon. We present here a new scale to evaluate the degree of hypoplasia of the palate and identify patients with cleft palate at high risk for the development of this complication. Methods In this case series, a 20-year retrospective analysis (1994-2014) identified patients from our records (medical records and screening day registries) with nonsyndromic cleft palate who underwent operations at 3 centers. All of these patients underwent operations using 2-flap palatoplasty and also underwent a physical examination with photographs and documentation of the presence of palatal flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty. Results Palatal flap necrosis was observed in 4 cases out of 1,174 palatoplasties performed at these centers. The observed prevalence of palatal flap necrosis in these groups was 0.34%. Conclusions The prevalence of flap necrosis can be reduced by careful preoperative planning, and prevention is possible. The scale proposed here may help to prevent this complication; however, further studies are necessary to validate its utility.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1996

There are various defects caused by trauma or resection of maignant tumor in the orofacial region, which can be reconstructed with various regional and pararegional flaps. Among these defects, it is very difficult to reconstruct palatal and midfacial defects after maxillectomy and patients have problems in speaking and swallowing of food. Therefore it is very important for surgeons to reconstruct these defects functionally and esthetically and to return the patients to the normal social activity. These defects are usually obturated with prosthodontic appliances to assist the phonation and swallowing. But nowadays surgical reconstruction by various flaps was considered and performed for better rehabilitation. For this purpose the forehead flap, the nasolabial flap, the tongue flap, the sternocleidomastoideous flap, the temporal flap, the latissimus dorsi flap, the scapular flap etc. are used. We reconstructed small-sized plalatal defects with tongue flap, medium-sized palatal and maxillary defects after maxillectomy with temporal myofascial flap and large midfacial defects including eyeball exenteration with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps. Here we are to report 5 cases of these flaps used for the reconstruction of palatal and midfacial defects and consider the versatility, reliability and limitation in use of these flaps.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2019

Background: The resection of head and neck cancer can result in postoperative defect. Many patients have difficulty swallowing and masticating, and some have difficulty speaking. Various types of flaps are used for palatal reconstruction, but flap selection remains controversial. Therefore, our study will suggest which flap to choose during palatal reconstruction. Methods: Thirteen patients who underwent palatal reconstruction from 30 January, 1989 to 4 October, 2016 at our institution. Size was classified as small when the width was < $4cm^2$, medium when it was $4-6cm^2$, and large when it was ${\geq}6cm^2$. Based on speech evaluation, the subjects were divided into a normal group and an easily understood group. After surgery, we assessed whether flap selection was appropriate through the evaluation of flap success, complications, and speech evaluation. Results: Defect size ranged from $1.5{\times}2.0cm$ to $5.0{\times}6.0cm$. In four cases, the defect was in the anterior third of the palate, in eight cases it was in the middle, and there was one case of whole palatal defect. There were three small defects, two medium-sized defects, and eight large defects. Latissimus dorsi free flaps were used in six of the eight large defects in the study. Conclusion: The key to successful reconstructive surgery is appropriate selection of the flap with reference to the characteristics of the defect. Depending on the size and location of the defect, the profiles of different flaps should be matched with the recipient from the outset.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2022

The soft palate of carcinoma limited to the uvular region is infrequent among oropharyngeal cancers. The oropharynx regulates swallowing and speech through dynamic motions. Failure to reconstruct after surgical resection of the oropharynx structure can lead to permanent velopharyngeal insufficiency. Therefore, suitable reconstruction is important in establishing proper functional outcomes while maintaining oncological safety. We present a case of a 66-year-old male who was diagnosed with oropharynx cancer limited in the uvula accompanied by lymph node metastasis. After surgical resection, reconstruction was performed with the united arrangement of bilateral palatal mucomuscular flap and superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap. There was no aspiration or reflux after feeding and epithelialization completely occurred after 1 month postoperatively. We report a successful case that the reconstruction with the local flap described above could preserve proper oropharyngeal function after primary surgery in small-sized oropharyngeal cancer.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 2014

Background: Many options are available to cover a palatal defect, including local or free flaps. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of palatal mucoperiosteal island flap in covering a palatal defect after tumor excision. Methods: Between October 2006 and July 2013, we identified 19 patients who underwent palatal reconstruction using a palatal mucoperiosteal island flap after tumor excision. All cases were retrospectively analyzed by defect location, size, tumor pathology, type of reconstruction, and functional outcomes. Speech and swallowing functions were evaluated using a 7-point visual analog scale (VAS) score. Results: Among the 19 patients, there were 7 men and 12 women with an age range of 25 to 74 years (mean, $52.5{\pm}14.3$ years). The size of flaps was $2-16cm^2$ (mean, $9.4{\pm}4.2cm^2$). Either unilateral or bilateral palatal island flaps were used depending on the size of defect. During the follow-up period (mean, $32.7{\pm}21.4$ months), four patients developed a temporary oronasal fistula, which healed without subsequent operative. The donor sites were well re-epithelized. Speech and swallowing function scores were $6.63{\pm}0.5$ and $6.58{\pm}0.69$ on the 7-point VAS, indicating the ability to eat solid foods and communicate verbally without significant disability. Conclusion: The palatal mucoperiosteal island flap is a good reconstruction modality for palatal defects if used under appropriate indications. The complication rates and donor site morbidity are low, with good functional outcomes.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.209-213
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• 2021

Primary palatoplasty for cleft palate places patients at high risk for scarring, altered vascularity, and persistent tension. Palatal fistulas are a challenging complication of primary palatoplasty that typically form around the hard palate-soft palate junction. Repairing palatal fistulas, particularly wide fistulas, is extremely difficult because there are not many choices for closure. However, a few techniques are commonly used to close the remaining fistula after primary palatoplasty. Herein, we report the revision of a palatal fistula using a pedicled buccal fat pad and palatal lengthening with a buccinator myomucosal flap and sphincter pharyngoplasty to treat a patient with a wide palatal fistula. Tension-free closure of the palatal fistula was achieved, as well as velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) correction. This surgical method enhanced healing, minimized palatal contracture and shortening, and reduced the risk of infection. The palate healed with mucosalization at 2 weeks, and no complications were noted after 4 years of follow-up. Therefore, these flaps should be considered as an option for closure of large oronasal fistulas and VPI correction in young patients with wide palatal defects and VPI.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.384-389
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• 1994

A female child with unilateral midpalatal cleft was successfully treated by Wardill V-Y pushback palatal flap and superiorly based pharyngeal flap simultaneously. The advantages of this method are to prepare the favorable background of postoperative speech correction and additional nasal lining. We can try this simultaneous operation in delayed cleft palate repair.