Secondary closure of small- to medium-size palatal defects after ablative surgery: reappraisal of reconstructive techniques.

PURPOSE: Postoncologic reconstruction of the palate represents a major surgical challenge with respect to the thin intraoral and intranasal lining. Current reconstructive methods have ranged from obturative closure of the defect to microsurgical free tissue transfer. The final choice of treatment will be influenced by the size and location of the defect and surgeon experience. The goals of palate repair include optimizing palatal function for speech and eating, and avoiding dehiscence or postoperative fistulas. This study assessed the reliability of locoregional flaps for reconstructing maxillary defects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study described the surgical outcome of locoregional reconstruction of the hard and soft palate of 5 patients who had previously undergone tumor ablative surgery. They ranged in age from 19 to 64 years. None had received postoperative radiotherapy. The resultant surgical defects ranged in size from 2.5 to 12 cm(2). One patient experienced velopharyngeal insufficiency.

RESULTS: In all cases, the palate was closed at the first attempt without complications. All flaps survived, and complete closure was obtained in these 4 patients. The patient with the velopharyngeal insufficiency experienced a significant improvement in articulation and swallowing function.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of these 5 cases indicate that secondary locoregional flaps are a suitable alternative for palatal defect management. They have a high success rate and functional outcome. These secondary techniques can be reliably used to reconstruct small- to moderate-size palatal defects and represent a reliable reconstructive option with minimal morbidity.