Abstract

LOPEZ-SANCHEZ, R. et al. Experience and results of palatal fistula repair with FAMM flap in patients with congenital cleft palate. Cir. plást. iberolatinoam. [online]. 2014, vol.40, n.3, pp.261-270. ISSN 1989-2055.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0376-78922014000300004.

Palatal fistulas are a common complication of cleft surgery. Options for secondary reconstruction of moderate to large defects are limited due to the scarcity of local donor tissue as well as the scars from the primary cleft repair. We present our experience in the treatment of moderate to large palatal fistulas with facial artery musculo-mucosal flap (FAMM flap), and we describe some technical details that we have introduced to improve safety. We present 8 patients, 5 female and 3 male, aged 5 to 18 years, with congenital cleft palate who developed moderate to large fistulae that after multidisciplinary evaluation were reconstructed with FAMM flap. The sizes of the fistulae ranged from 0,5 to 2,3 cm. in largest diameter. The follow-up was 1-6 years. We obtained a complete correction of palatal fistula in 5 patients without complications. Marginal necrosis occurred in the first 2 cases and required revision. One patient suffered total flap necrosis and required reconstruction with a contralateral FAMM flap. We did not experience complications of the donor site. We consider this flap an excellent option in moderate to large palatal fistula repair because it allows providing a large amount of well vascularized tissue with a wide arc of rotation. After a relatively short learning curve, complications are rare.

Keywords : Palatal fistulae; FAMM flap; Cleft palate.

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