Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of the buccal fat pad flap in reconstruction of defects of the oral mucosa. Methods From May 1998 to July 2004, 42 patients with oral mucodefects were treated with buccal fat pad flap. Of them, there were 26 males and 16 females, aging 25-76 years. The defect was caused by buccal squamous carcinoma in 7 cases, by buccal leukoplakia in 5 cases, by squamous carcinoma of soft palate in 7 cases, by adenoid cystic carcinoma of palate in 8 cases, by carcinoma of maxillary sinus in 6 cases, by maxillo-alveolar angioma in 5 cases and by keratocyst of maxilla in 4 cases. The locations were buccal mucosa, maxillary sinus and soft palate. The size of defect ranged from 3.0 cm×3.0 cm to 6.5 cm×4.0cm.Results Forty-one cases achieved healing by first intention, except one case because of large defect. Edema faded and epithelization occurred after 4 weeks of operation. Complete epithelization was observed after 6 weeks of operation. Thirty-five cases were followed up 3 months to 5 years. Therewere no obvious differences in layers, color, elasticity, and texture between repaired region and adjacent mucosa. Conclusion The buccal fat pad flap is useful in reconstructing the muco-defects (less than 6.5 cm in diameter) of the posterior maxilla and buccal region without considerable complication. The multiplex blood supply, facility in accessing and minimal donor site morbidity make it a reliable soft tissue graft. The main shortcoming is its limited size.
Objective To design a combined flap of subscapular axis including vascularized lateral scapular,rib and latissimus dorsi to repair the large defect of tibia. Methods The patient was a 39-year-old man who got a posttraumatic 12 cm defect of tibiaafter primary debridement and external fixation because of open fracture 5 months ago. There was a 12 cm×6 cm scar involved the proximal medial segment of tibia.After resection of scar and fibular tissue over the bone defect floor, alatissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap 14 cm×5 cm pedicled with subscapular artery-thoracodorsal artery,a flap 12.5 cm on the outside of the scapular pedicled with thoracodorsal artery, and 6th rib flap 13 cm by serratus were prepared.The tibialis posterior and saphenous vein were used for astomosis. A proximalanatomic plate was applied to the fixation of tibia. Results Thecompound flap survived the operation. The follow-up period was 2 years. Bone union occurred 6 months after operation. Conclusion This combined flap is successful and can provide alternative to the resolution of large defect of tibia.
Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of submental island flap in repairing tongue defects.Methods Nine patients (6 men and 3 women)with tongue squamous cell carcinoma underwent subtotal or partial glossectomy, resection of mandible,radical neck dissection and immediate reconstruction of tongue defects with submental island flap. The age ranged from 48 years to 71 years, the lesion locations were right part of tongue (5 cases) and left part of tongue (4 cases). The defect sizes were 4.2 cm×3.2 cm to 5.5 cm×4.0 cm. The flap area rangedfrom 6.0 cm×3.0 cm to 7.0 cm×4.0 cm. The flap pedicle included submental artery in 8 cases and both submental artery and facial artery in 1 case. Results The submental island flap survived in 8 cases. Postoperative articulation and swallowing were investigated in all cases. The static shape of tongue after rec onstruction with submental island flap was acceptable. The dynamic speech, swallowing and food transport function were well preformed. No complication occurred.Three patients were given radiotherapy 3 weeks after operation. Conclusion It is simple and convenient to repair defects of tongue and oral floor with submental island flap.
Objective To introduce the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in non-vascularised bone grafts (NVBG) of maxillofacial surgery and its potential mechanism in recent years.Methods The latest articles were extensively retrieved, and the potential mechanism for PRP promotes the osteogenesis was discussed. Results PRP promotes osteogenesis when applied to NVBG, and the cytokine included in platelet is thought to be the ingredient for PRP’s effect. Some scholar has already applied PRP in the restoration of maxillofacial bone defect andgot good results. Conclusion PRP has the potential to promotesosteogenesis, and more studies are needed for further understanding of its mechanism.
Objective To evaluate the ability of inductive osteogenesis of allgraft demineralized bone containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/ALB) in repairing bone defect. Methods Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (groups A,B,C and D, n=8). A segmental bone defect of15 mm inlength was made on the bilateral radius respectively and the defects filled with ALB/bFGF in group A, with ALB in group B, with bFGF in group C and without any materials in group D serving as blank control. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after operation, all restored bones were evaluated by roentgenography, histological observation and Ca2+detection of osteotylus. Results The X-ray films showed that groups A and B had a little shadow of bone formation at 2 weeks, while groups C and D had transparent shadow; that group A had denser shadow and new bone formation at 4 weeks and 6 weeks, groups B and C had a little increase of shadow and group D had little shadow at fractured ends; and that group A had formation of bone bridge at 8 weeks, the new formed bone in fractured ends of group B closed with each other, the gap still existed in group C, and the defects filled with the soft tissue in group D. The Ca2+content of group A was higher than that of groups B, C and D at 4 weeks (Plt;0.05) and 8 weeks (Plt;0.01). The histological observaton showed that the degree of bone restoration of group A was superior to that of groups B, C and D. Conclusion bFGF/ALB is a good material to improve bone restoration.