Repairing of palatum durum defects following maxillectomy using nasal septum tissue flap / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the effect of repairing of palatum durum defects following maxillectomy using nasal septum tissue flap.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six patients underwent maxillectomy and the defects were repaired by using full (16 cases) and partial (10 cases) nasal septum tissue flaps.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-one patients were healed by first intention, recovering swallowing and pronunciation function. Five patients suffered from fistula holes, and 2 healed after dressing while 2 of the other 3 patients healed after second suturing with 1 still got a small fistula hole. Facial deformity include 4 exterior cheek mild concave and 6 complained about unsuited false teeth and no dorsal subsidence was found. The 3, 5, 10 year survival rate was 46.2%, 30.8% and 11.5% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Repairing defects with nasal septum tissue flap has advantages. Nasal septum can not be invaded easily, and the material can be got with ease, with rich blood supply, being resistant to infection, easy to heal and less chance of leading to fistula holes. With the cartilage of nasal septum as support, facial deformity can be reduced. And the method is worth spreading and exploiting.</p>