title: [Submental island pedicled flap combination with bio-membrane for reconstructing the piercing palate defects].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcomes of submental island pedicled flap (SIPF) combination with bio-membrane in reconstructing palate defects after maxillofacial or palatal neoplasm resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and one patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma. The clinical stages of tumours were II in two patients, III in four patients, IV in six patients (UICC 2002), and one patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma no staged. SIPFs were designed and created, and the tissue sides of the SIPFs were covered with bio-membrane to reconstruct the oral and the nasal sides of the defects respectively. Speech and swallowing functions and opening mouth were evaluated 6 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps survived and no serious complications occurred. Ten patients achieved normal speech, two had intelligible speech, and one was with slurred speech; Nine patients resumed a solid diet, three with a soft diet, and one on a liquid diet. Eight patients recovered normal mouth opening, four emerged minor limitation of mouth opening, and one had serious limitation of mouth opening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SIPF combined with bio-membrane is a safe, simple, and reliable method for reconstruction of piercing palate defect following neoplasm ablation, with satisfactory oral functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huaian 223300, China.
authors.forename: Hanqian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jiawu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, Email: maochicn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003679:Deglutition; D006801:Humans; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013060:Speech; D013524:Surgical Flaps