Use of a barrier membrane to repair congenital hard palate defects and to close oronasal fistulae remaining after cleft palate repair: seven dogs (2019-2022).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of a barrier membrane in dogs for repair of congenital hard palate defects and closure of oronasal fistulae (ONF) remaining after previous cleft palate (CFP) repair. ANIMALS: 7 client-owned dogs. METHODS: The hard palate defect was closed with medially positioned flaps (Von Langenbeck technique) or pedicle flaps (2-flap palatoplasty) and a membrane composed of autologous auricular cartilage from the pinna or allogenous fascia lata underlying the mucoperiosteal flaps. RESULTS: All palate defects were considered to have a high risk of dehiscence based on their type and size and the characteristics of the surrounding tissue. The barrier membrane was used in 5 dogs for repair of congenital hard palate defects and in 2 dogs for closure of ONF remaining after previous CFP repair. Resolution of clinical signs occurred in all cases. Complete success (ie, complete closure of the palate defect and absence of clinical signs) was achieved in 5 dogs (4 with congenital hard palate defects and 1 with an ONF remaining after previous CFP repair). The persistent ONF in 1 dog with functional success (incomplete closure, but no clinical signs) was smaller than prior to surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Barrier membranes underlying mucoperiosteal flaps may constitute an alternative technique in dogs for repair of congenital hard palate defects and closure of ONF remaining after previous CFP repair.

Surgical treatment for cleft palate in dogs yields excellent outcomes despite high rates of oronasal fistula formation: a narrative review.

Cleft palate is the most common congenital orofacial defect in dogs. Although this topic has been extensively studied in experimental dogs, current literature on clinical patients is limited to case reports and small case series studies with many individual opinions based on experience. This narrative review summarizes the literature of the last 10 years with application to clinical practice, focusing on the preparation of the patient until surgery, options for surgical management, and perioperative complications. Surgical treatment must be performed to obtain separation between the nasal/nasopharyngeal and oral/oropharyngeal passages. This will allow the dog to have independent function and reduce clinical signs associated with food, water, and other foreign material entering the respiratory tract. Surgical treatment has good to excellent outcomes when the procedure is carefully planned and appropriately executed despite the high rates of postoperative oronasal fistula reported.

Sternohyoideus-sternothyroideus muscle flap to reconstruct oronasal fistulas due to maxillary cancer in four dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the repair of oronasal fistulas in dogs treated for maxillary cancer, with a novel sternohyoideus-sternothyroideus muscle flap, and to report the outcome. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n = 4) with oronasal fistulas related to cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Short case series. METHODS: Maxillary defects were caused by tissue destruction by the tumor and tumor response to radiation therapy in two cases and a complication of caudal maxillectomy in two cases, one of which had neoadjuvant radiation therapy. All tumors were >4 cm at the level of the maxilla. Flaps were harvested by transecting the ipsilateral sternothyroideus and sternohyoideus muscles from their origin at the manubrium and costal cartilage. The muscles were rotated around the base of the cranial thyroid artery and tunneled subcutaneously in the neck and through an incision in the caudodorsal aspect of the oral cavity. The muscle flap was sutured to the edges of the oronasal fistula. RESULTS: The flap reached as far rostral as the level of the first premolar without tension. All dogs had clinical signs that improved postoperatively. All dogs had partial dehiscence of the flap. CONCLUSION: This flap was associated with a high rate of complications; however, all flaps were used in challenging cases. Clinical signs related to oronasal fistula were improved in all dogs in this case series.

Surgical Repair of Acquired Oronasal Fistulas Secondary to Periodontal Disease in Dogs Using a Flexible Bone Membrane: A Case Series.

Oronasal fistulas are sequelae to periodontal disease in dogs. Previous case series have described the use of auricular cartilage as a type of membrane to help with surgical repair of oronasal fistulas. This case series explores the use of a commercially available flexible bone membrane in the surgical repair of ten acquired oronasal fistulas in dogs. The use of the flexible bone membrane did not necessarily improve the surgical outcomes in these cases; however, larger controlled trials are necessary to further evaluate its use.

Reconstrução de palato com malha de polipropileno e prótese acrílica para correção de fístula oronasal adquirida em cão / Palate reconstruction with polypropylene mesh and acrylic prosthesis in dog for correcton of acquired oronosal fistulae

As fístulas oronosais adquiridas são defeitos que permitem a comunicação anormal entre as cavidades oral e nasal. Inúmeras causas podem ser atribuídas à etiologia de tal defeito. O presente trabalho visa relatar o caso de um cão com fístula oronasal adquirida que foi submetido à reconstrução cirúrgica do palato com o uso de malha de polipropileno e prótese acrílica. Após estabilização do quadro clínico e remoção manual das larvas, o paciente foi encaminhado para o desbridamento cirúrgico das lesões orais e correção do defeito no palato. A palatoplastia foi realizada com o uso da malha e resina de polimetilmetacrilato autopolimerizável. A malha foi suturada sobre o defeito palatino com pontos simples separados e fio náilon 3-0 nas extremidades da ferida. Em seguida, a resina foi preparada e, ao atingir consistência adequada, foi aplicada e modelada sobre o a malha de polipropileno com o auxílio de um descolador de Molt, sendo também suturada nas bordas da fístula com pontos simples separados e fio náilon 3-0. No mesmo tempo cirúrgico foi inserida uma sonda esofágica para alimentação enteral. Devido complicações cirúrgicas no pós operatório, o paciente foi submetido a mais duas intervenções cirúrgicas para desfecho satisfatório do tratamento. Conclui-se que associação entre a tela de polipropileno e a prótese acrílica foi uma alternativa exequível para a palatoplastia em cão.

Acquired oronosal fistulae are abnormal communication between the oral and nasal cavities. A oronasal fistula can be the result of different causes, like oral myiasis. The objetctive of these paper is to report the case of a dog with acquired oronasal fistula that underwent surgical reconstruction of the palate using polypropylene mesh and acrylic prosthesis. After stabilization of the patient ́s clinical condition and mecanic removal of the larvae, the dog was referred for surgical debridement of the oral lesions and correction of the defect in the palate. Palatoplasty was performed using a mesh and polymethylmethacrylate resin. The mesh was sutured over the palatal defect with separate simple suture and 3-0 naylon thread at the ends of the wound. Then, the resin was prepared and, upon reaching adequate consistency, it was applied and shaped over the polypropylene mesh with Molt peeler. It was also sutured on the edges of the fistula with separate simple suture and 3-0 nylon suture. At the same surgical time, an esophageal tube was inserted for enteral feeding. Due to complications, the dog underwent two more surgical interventions for a satisfactory treatment outcome. It is concluded that the association between the polypropylene mesh and the acrylic prosthesis was a practical alternative for palatoplasty in dogs after oral myiasis.

Visual and histological evaluation of the effects of trafermin in a dog oronasal fistula model.

The standard procedure to treat oronasal fistula in dogs requires tooth extraction to close the fistula; hence, the subject would lose its tooth. In this study, trafermin was applied to four dog models with oronasal fistula to investigate the periodontal tissue regenerative effects of trafermin in the treatment without tooth extraction. A fistula was created along the palatal side of each upper canine tooth. One of the fistulae was filled with trafermin, whereas that on the contralateral side was left unfilled as a control. The results showed a significant decrease in the non-calcified periodontal tissue volume on the trafermin side after the fourth week. In addition, oronasal fistula closure was visually and histologically confirmed at the eighth week on the trafermin side of all four models.

Repair of an oronasal fistula with a two-layer closure method involving an autogenous fascia lata graft and oral mucosal flap in a pony.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 9-year-old pony gelding was evaluated because it was suspected that a persistent oronasal fistula had developed after a fractured right maxillary second premolar tooth had been extracted via repulsion 6 months earlier. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Unilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge and malodorous breath were noted on clinical examination. Examination of the oral cavity revealed a 1 × 0.5-cm defect at the oral aspect of the right maxillary second premolar alveolus, from which feed material was extracted. Endoscopic examination revealed feed material in the rostral aspect of the right nasal cavity, confirming the diagnosis of oronasal fistula. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The pony initially underwent a reconstructive surgical procedure that combined an alveolar bone flap with a sliding mucoperiosteal hard palate flap to repair the oronasal fistula. The fistula reoccurred 5 months later and was ultimately repaired by means of a novel 2-layer flap closure method involving an autogenous fascia lata graft and oral mucosa flap. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fascia lata was effective as a scaffolding graft for repair of the oronasal fistula in this pony and may be useful for repair of oronasal fistulas in other equids as well.

Incorporation of a polydioxanone absorbable plate in the successful repair of an iatrogenic oronasal fistula in a dog.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 10-year-old castrated male Siberian Husky that had undergone complete excision of an oral plasmacytoma was evaluated because of development of a large oronasal fistula following failure of primary defect repair. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical examination findings for the dog were unremarkable. The dog was receiving nutrition via an esophagostomy tube, which had been placed at the time of mass excision. The dog was notably head shy. Intraoral examination following sedation revealed a large (approx 25 × 20-mm) oronasal fistula, which was oriented craniocaudally in the long axis and located at the rostral aspect of the soft palate. Maturation of tissues had been allowed following failure of the primary repair, and an epithelialized border was identified circumferentially. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 10 weeks after mass excision, revision surgery involving 2-layer closure augmented with a polydioxanone plate was performed. At a recheck examination 21 days after revision surgery, near-complete healing of the closure site with no repair compromise was evident, and the dog had returned to oral food intake. A follow-up evaluation 40 weeks later revealed complete healing, with a single 1-mm defect at the medial aspect of the left maxillary dental arcade, as a result of suspected repeated trauma at the level of teeth 209 and 210. This defect was not associated with any clinical abnormalities. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The outcome for this dog indicated that use of a polydioxanone plate offers a means of robust, long-lasting, and absorbable augmentation of a traditional 2-layer repair of an oronasal fistula in this species.

Diagnostic imaging of oronasal fistulas in a dachshund.

Oronasal fistula development is described anecdotally as a common disease process in the dachshund but little is known about its imaging appearance. This case report describes the clinical presentation, computed tomography (CT) characterisation, dental radiograph confirmation and treatment of bilateral oronasal fistulas in a 14-year-old dachshund.

Complications associated with cheek tooth extraction in the horse.

Common indications for cheek tooth extraction in the horse include dental fracture, periodontal disease, severe decay/ caries, mandibular fracture with alveolar/tooth involvement, and periapical abscess. Complications secondary to extraction of cheek teeth are prevalent. Typical complications may include retained root tip(s), collateral damage of neighboring teeth and alveolar bone, mandibular fracture non-union or delayed union, cemental ankylosis, dilacerated root(s), oroantral/oronasal fistula, palatal deviation of cheek teeth, bone sequestration, sinus involvement, alveolar plug failure, and palatine artery laceration. This paper presents a series of cases that had complications following cheek tooth extraction. Anticipation of problematic extractions, recognition of complications, and appropriate treatment will aid the clinician in managing the inevitable cheek tooth extraction complication.

Oronasal fistula repair utilizing a temporalis muscle flap in a dog with severe trismus.

A 9 yr old spayed female cocker spaniel presented for evaluation of an invasive maxillary squamous cell carcinoma. Curative intent surgery and radiation therapy allowed for local control of the neoplasm; however, the development of a persistent oronasal fistula prevented a complete recovery. A temporalis myofascial rotation flap allowed for successful resolution of the maxillary defect. Implementation of the flap was relatively simple and was associated with few complications.

Treatment of oromaxillary fistulae in nine standing horses (2002-2006).

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is minimal published information on equine oromaxillary fistulae that are unrelated to cheek teeth (CT) repulsion or on the conservative treatment of these atypical fistulae. OBJECTIVES: To report equine oromaxillary fistulae unrelated to CT extraction and describe their management in standing horses. METHODS: Case details of oromaxillary fistulae of atypical aetiology occurring at 2 referral centres between 2002-2006, including their treatment and response to treatment were examined. RESULTS: Nine cases of oromaxillary fistula were recorded, mainly in aged horses (median 22 years). Fistulae were associated with CT diastemata in 7 cases, fractured CT in one and a central defect in a worn CT in another. After removing food and exudate from the sinuses, 6 cases were treated successfully by filling the diastema or dental defect with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Following dental extraction, the other 3 cases were treated successfully by use of PMMA alveolar packing. CONCLUSION: Older horses can spontaneously develop oromaxillary fistulae, usually secondary to CT diastemata. In the absence of apical infection, this disorder can usually be treated successfully in standing horses by treating the sinusitis and sealing the oral aspect of the diastema with PMMA. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Older horses with sinusitis should be assessed for the presence of CT diastemata and oromaxillary fistulae. If detected, these disorders can be treated successfully in the standing horse.

Sub-lingual oral fistulas in free-living stitchbirds (Notiomystis cincta).

Sub-lingual oral fistulas are a consistently observed lesion affecting the New Zealand stitchbird (hihi: Notiomystis cincta). This lesion, which has not been reported in other species, is usually only recognized when the tongue protrudes below the bird's mandible from a hole in the oral-cavity floor. In this study, we surveyed the prevalence of oral fistulas in a free-living population of stitchbirds on Tiritiri Matangi Island in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Between surveys, individuals with a fistula were caught and the progress of their lesion was monitored. The majority of birds with a fistula had a small localized lesion alongside the edge of the mandible without the tongue protruding. Oral fistulas were generally not associated with any reduction in the bird's condition or productivity, but if the tongue consistently deviated through the fistula it affected nectar-feeding efficiency. No fistulas were found in nestlings, but 9% to 10% of adult birds had some form of oral fistula, suggesting that it developed after fledging. Repeated measurement of birds showed that the size of the fistulas did not progress beyond the formation of the initial hole unless the tongue protruded. This protrusion resulted in continuous rubbing and erosion of the oral cavity floor and, ultimately, the mandible itself. Histopathology confirmed that fistulas occur in the thinnest part of the floor of the oral cavity, at the attachment point of the skin to the mandible. Despite long-term monitoring of this population, the formation of an oral fistula has never been observed and its aetiology remains elusive.

Repair of oronasal fistulae using auricular cartilage grafts in five cats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe repair of chronic palatine defects in cats, with free cartilage graft harvested from either the pinna (scapha) or vertical ear canal (annular cartilage). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Cats (n=5) with chronic oronasal fistula. METHODS: Cartilage was harvested from either the scapha or annular cartilage and epithelium removed. After preparation of the edges of the palatal defect by separation of the oral and palatal mucosa circumferentially, the graft was inserted between the epithelial layers and secured without tension. The graft acted as a scaffold for migration of granulation tissue and epithelialization. RESULTS: Oronasal fistulae were successfully repaired in 5 cats (3 pinna grafts; 2 annular cartilage grafts); 1 cat required a second graft after the first graft was dislodged. CONCLUSIONS: Auricular cartilage provides a reliable framework for repair of oronasal fistulae in cats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Chronic oronasal fistulae refractory to conventional repair can be treated by use of auricular free graft (pinna or annular cartilage) without disfigurement. Use of annular cartilage to support palatal repairs offers surgeons an additional option when other methods have failed. We recommend using conchal cartilage as the initial treatment approach for repair of small oronasal fistulae in cats.

Greater palatine island axial pattern flap for repair of oronasal fistula related to eosinophilic granuloma.

A Greyhound presented with eosinophilic granuloma lesions of the soft palate and oronasal fistula. Since other siblings had been known to also have oral eosinophilic granuloma, it was suspected that the dog reported here had a familial predisposition to develop the disease. Preoperative medical management consisting of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy was required before surgical repair of the oronasal fistula. Multiple surgical techniques, including a greater palatine island axial pattern flap, were used to repair the oronasal fistula.

Management of the traumatic oronasal fistula in the cat with a conical silastic prosthetic device.

Management of a traumatic oronasal fistula with a prosthetic device in an 8-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat is described. The animal had fallen from a height of three stories at the age of 1 year. The fall had resulted in a fracture of the hard palate and a split in the palatal mucosa. Two surgical attempts to close the defect had been unsuccessful and an autopolymerizable acrylic resin prosthesis had produced unsatisfactory results. The management of the chronic traumatic fistula with a conical prosthetic device was fast, easy and efficient. The device was removed and a second one was put in place after 2 years. This method would appear particularly useful for obturation of large palatal defects that have failed to heal after attempts at surgical closure and is an alternative treatment for debilitated cats which may not be candidates for longer surgical procedures.