title: Efficacy of buccal fat pad in the surgical management of oral submucous fibrosis: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various surgical treatment modalities have been advocated in the surgical management of oral submucous fibrosis with variable results. This prospective study evaluates the efficacy of buccal fat pad in the surgical treatment of oral submucous fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, 20 patients were treated for oral submucous fibrosis with interincisal mouth opening less than 16 mm. Surgical procedure included fibrotomy, all third molar extractions, and coronoidotomy or coronoidectomy followed by reconstruction of fibrotomy defect with buccal pad of fat. Postoperatively, patients were prescribed nutritional and antioxidant supplements along with vigorous mouth opening exercise for 6 months. Regular follow-up was carried out for 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Excellent increase in the interincisal mouth opening was noticed relieving trismus. Patient's ability of masticate and tolerance to regular food was increased significantly. Buccal fat pad underwent rapid epithelization within a period of 5-7 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buccal fat pad can be used effectively in the surgical management of oral submucous fibrosis with good functional and esthetic outcome, with only drawback of supple lobulated fat, which requires delicate handling and its limitation to reach anteriorly beyond the canine region.
authors.affiliation: Hope Multispecialty Hospital and Research Center, Nagpur, India. drpravinlambade@gmail.com.|14, Nehru nagar, Near Surendra Nagar Basket Ball Ground, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440015, India. drpravinlambade@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pravin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lambade
authors.affiliation: Swargiya Dadasaheb Kalmegh Smruti Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dawane
authors.affiliation: Swargiya Dadasaheb Kalmegh Smruti Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorat
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014313:Trismus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation
keywords: Buccal fat pad; Fibrotomy; Oral submucous fibrosis; Physiotherapy