title: The role of temporalis fascia for free mucosal graft survival in small nasal septal perforation repair.
abstract: Temporalis fascia has been used widely as a interposition graft for mucosal rotation flap in nasal septal perforation repair. However, the exact role of temporalis fascia in healing process has not yet been clarified. For the pedicle of rotation flap has been considered as a major vehicle for nutrition distribution, the role of temporalis fascia has been devaluated. In this study, we experienced small nasal septal perforation repairs using free mucosal graft not having pedicles but covered by temporalis fascia. Three patients with small nasal septal perforations not larger than 1 × 1 cm were included. In 2 patients, the perforations were repaired using free composite grafts from the inferior turbinate mucosa covered by continuous temporalis fascia not divided, and the surgical results were successful with complete healings. In 1 patient, however, the temporalis fascia was divided into 2 parts to better fit the shape of the perforation, and the graft failed to survive. These surgical results suggest that the temporalis fascia might have an important role in healing process of nasal septal defect and could be used as a beneficial options for small mucosal defect repair surgeries using free mucosal grafts.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon St Mary's Hospital, Incheon; †Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, Daejeon; and ‡Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joo-Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Yong-Su
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Gyun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Byung-Jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cheon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation*; D061270:Nasal Septal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014420:Turbinates