title: Repair of large, anterior palatal fistulas using thin tongue flaps: long-term follow-up of 10 patients.
abstract: Anteriorly based, thin tongue flaps were used in 10 patients to close large, anterior palatal fistulas. All 10 flaps (100%) survived, and complete closure was obtained in all patients, with the exception of a recurrent fistula that occurred in 1 patient during maxillary expansion (10%). Another patient (10%) demonstrated postoperative bleeding that required formal hemostasis under general anesthesia. No other complications were encountered. The results of this series indicate that the tongue flap is a safe technique for closure of large, anterior palatal fistulas. This thin, long flap is also reliable for orthodontic maxillary expansion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Guzel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altintas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D012008:Recurrence; D013070:Speech Therapy; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014059:Tongue / Q000637:transplantation