JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Vol. 55 No. 3       2009

ISSN: 0021-5163      UBIC: 151-J

ABSTRACT

A pedicled buccal fat-pad graft was used to repair defects after resection of oral lesions in 8 patients (1 case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the palate, 2 cases of pleomorphic adenoma of the palate, 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the left buccal mucosa, 1 case of squamous cell carcinoma of the right upper gingiva, 1 case of sialoadenitis of the minor salivary glands in the left buccal mucosa, and 1 case of ameloblastoma of the right maxilla). A pedicled buccal-fat pad was carefully prepared by making a vestibular incision in the upper molar region after primary surgery. The most important step in preparation was to preserve the surrounding connective tissue to supply nutrition to the pedicle. The size of the reconstructed area ranged from 15 X 10 mm to 43 X 38 mm. The grafts used in this study were long enough to cover the anterior buccal region. Postoperative epithelization of the grafts and donor sites was uneventful in all patients. There was no severe contraction of soft tissues during follow-up, ranging from 4 months to 5 years 11 months. In conclusion, buccal fat-pad grafting is considered feasible for the repair of surgically induced defects in the maxilla, palate, and buccal mucosa. Keywords: buccal fat-pad, pedicled graft, epithelization, surgical defect, oral lesion.

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