Cierre de fístulas palatinas amplias mediante colgajos de lengua en pacientes con secuelas de paladar hendido

Abstract

An oronasal fistule is the most common sequel after the surgical closure of cleft palate. The purpose of this paper is to report the experience with the use of tongue flaps for the closure of large anterior palatal fistulas with previous attempts of closing without success or fistulas larger than 1 cm after the primary palatoplasty, in patients with cleft palate sequelae. The surgical procedures were performed under general anesthesia. Thin tongue flaps with anterior base were carried out with two plane closure . The pedicle was cut between the 3rd and 4th week. Of 35 patients, satisfactory closing of the fistulas was obtained in 27 cases, four presented partial dehiscence, two total dehiscence, one partial
necrosis and in another case the patient tore the pedicle intentionally. The results confirm what was reported by other authors in regard to the tongue flaps like a sure and effective option for closing a wide palatal fistulas after the primary palatoplasty or in cases where closing intents have previously failed.