title: [The tongue flap in palatal defect reconstruction].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A palatal defect with bucconasal fistula often follows exeresis of palatal tumors. It cannot be directly sutured. Several techniques have been used to cure such defects: palatal obturator, free, or local flaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  The tongue pediculated flap is an easy, safe, and reliable surgical option to reconstruct palatal defects. The tongue flap is a double-layer muscular and mucosal flap that requires two surgeries. During the first, the flap is harvested on the tongue and partially sutured on the anterior portion of the palatal defect. During the second, the pedicle is freed from the tongue and sutured to the posterior portion of the palatal defect. Between these two surgeries the patient is fed through a nasogastric tube.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tongue flap is easy and reproducible. It can be recommended in mediopalatal defects after cancer palatal surgery. Its esthetical and functional results are excellent. It is an alternative to palatal obturator, which are not well tolerated in the long run. Similar but uneven results are obtained with free flaps. Free flaps do not require a second surgery but are more difficult to implement in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Service de Stomatologie et de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Hôpital de la Timone, Boulevard Jean-Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheynet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chossegros
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blanc
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016155:Oral Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*