title: Use of the serratus anterior free flap to treat a recurrent oroantral fistula.
abstract: We describe the successful use of the serratus anterior free muscle flap to obliterate a recurrent oroantral fistula in a 39-year old male who 19 years before this surgery had sustained a high velocity impact to his right face with multiple subsequent corrective surgeries. There was no complication from the serratus anterior free flap surgery and no postoperative scapular winging. The serratus anterior muscle is a versatile flap and ideal for various defects. It should be considered for obliteration of oroantral fistulas when no local or regional tissue is available because of previous surgery or trauma.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Division of Plastic Surgery Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. egdeune@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: E Gene
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Deune
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Manson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009957:Oroantral Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013524:Surgical Flaps