Use of buccal mucosal flaps for the correction of congenital soft palate defects in three dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To present an alternative surgical technique for the repair of soft palate defects in dogs.


METHODS
Three Foxhound cross dogs.


METHODS
Bilateral buccal mucosal flaps, based at the palatoglossal arches, were raised. One flap was rotated so that the mucosal side created the floor of the nasopharynx. The second flap was rotated so that the mucosal side formed the roof of the oropharynx. The mucosa of the remnant of the soft palate and the pharyngeal walls was incised and the flaps sutured to these free mucosal edges. The caudal ends of the two flaps were sutured to each other.


RESULTS
Complete closure of the soft palate defect was obtained in all three dogs. The dogs were monitored for between 1.5 and 3 years postoperatively, and no long-term problems were encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
This surgical technique resulted in an excellent functional separation of the oropharynx and nasopharynx and allowed reconstruction of a large bilateral soft palate defect.


CONCLUSIONS
By using the buccal mucosal flaps, as described in this report, a tension-free closure of large soft palate defects can be obtained, thereby eliminating a major cause of failure of this type of reconstructive surgery.
Sager
M
M
Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Medical School of the Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Nefen
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002610:Cheek; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000601:surgery; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000601:surgery; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000662:veterinary; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000662:veterinary*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000662:veterinary