Reconstruction of velopharyngeal competence for composite palatomaxillary defect with a fibula osteocutaneous free flap.
Velopharyngeal competence reconstruction is indispensable for acquiring the fine speech and ingesting function. However, the maxillary prosthesis becomes unstable in some patients who have undergone extensive palatomaxillary. We present a case of total palatomaxillary defect resulting from squamous cell carcinoma ablation of the palate, which was reconstructed using a fibula-free osteocutaneous flap. Velopharyngeal competence was reconstructed owing to the flap so that the patient could ingest a soft diet and speak without hypernasality 2 weeks after surgery.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Nagasaki Medical Center, Japan. mfujioka@nmc.hosp.go.jp
Masaki
M
Fujioka
Isao
I
Tasaki
Aya
A
Yakabe
Satoru
S
Komuro
Katsumi
K
Tanaka
D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000601:surgery