title: Use of buccal fat pad for treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the application of pedicled buccal fat pad (BFP) in the surgical management of stage III and IV oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight cases of clinically and histologically diagnosed cases of OSMF were divided into 2 groups: group I (n = 15) and group II (n = 13), corresponding to clinical stage III and stage IV, respectively. All the patients underwent incision of fibrotic bands and coverage of the buccal defect with a pedicled BFP flap. Both groups were analyzed separately for mouth opening (interincisal distance in millimeters) preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively, time taken for epithelialization of BFP, time taken for establishment of normal contour, and changes in symptoms (painful ulcerations, burning sensation, and intolerance to spices) 1 year after grafting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean preoperative mouth opening was 19.6 mm (SD, 2.43) in group I and 12.92 mm (SD, 1.21) in group II. The mean postoperative mouth opening after 1 year was 35 mm in group I (SD, 1.96) and 31.76 mm in group II (SD, 1.97). The time taken for epithelialization of BFP was 4 weeks in group I and 5 weeks in group II. The mean time taken for establishment of normal contour after grafting was 12.25 weeks (SD, 1.42) in group I and 15.07 weeks (SD, 1.26) in group II. In 2 cases in group II, there was remission of painful ulcerations, burning sensation, and intolerance to spices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BFP is reliable for the treatment of OSMF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Military Hospital, Jalandhar, India. capt_rohit7@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Thapliyal
authors.forename: Ramen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: P Suresh
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002610:Cheek; D004848:Epithelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000503:physiopathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D017365:Spices / Q000009:adverse effects; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult