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*Corresponding author: Prof. (Dr) Muralee Mohan. MDS; DNB; MOSRCSEd, MBA Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences Deralakatte, Mangalore-575018
Chronic oro-antral fistula following dental extraction is not uncommon. Application of pedicled buccal fat pad (BFP) in the repair of the fistula is rather uncommon in our practice.
The use of a pediculate flap with the buccal fat pad is a simple and rapid technique that can be used to seal defects measuring up to 5 cm in diameter, with no changes in patient esthetic or appearance. The literature shows that this technique can be successfully used to cover defects in the palatine region or oral mucosa, to seal oronasal fistulas, cover bone graft surfaces, and reconstruct posttraumatic defects. Additional advantages are the great elasticity and excellent blood supply of this anatomical structure, which thus appears as a good treatment option, providing optimum results.
This article demonstrates the use of BFP in the repair of chronic oro-antral fistula. A case of a chronic oro-antral fistula of in a 56- year old woman successfully repaired with pedicled buccal fat pad. Complete epithelization of the pedicled BFP was observed after 4 weeks with no postoperative complication. A review of relevant literature using MEDLINE is also presented.
Oroantral fistula, Buccal pad of fat