Closure of anterior post-palatoplasty fistula using superior lip myomucosal flap.
OBJECTIVE
(a) Surgical repair of palatal fistulas are technically difficult due to excessive tissue fibrosis with high failure rate. (b) The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of closure of anterior palatal fistula using myomucosal superior lip flap.


METHODS
33 cases with anterior palatal fistulas after cleft palate repair were subjected to closure in two-layers, the first is the oral mucoperiosteum hinge flap to reconstruct the nasal side and the second is a myomucosal flap from the inner surface of the superior lip to reconstruct the oral side. Follow up was carried out for 12 months.


RESULTS
The fistulas were completely closed in 30 cases (91%) and partially closed in 3 cases (9%) due to necrosis of the tip of the flap.


CONCLUSIONS
Closure of anterior palatal fistula by the use of superior lip myomucosal flap is a useful method with high success rate and no morbidity.
Abdel-Aziz
Mosaad
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. mosabeez@yahoo.com
Abdel-Nasser
Wael
W
El-Hoshy
Hassan
H
Hisham
Ahmed
A
Khalifa
Badawi
B
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps