Original Articles: PDF OnlyThe Design of Tongue Flaps for the Closure of Palatal FistulasAlcoforado Assunçao, Antonio Guedes M.D. Author Information From the Hospital de Reabilitaçao de Bauru at the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: April 1993 - Volume 91 - Issue 5 - p 806-810 Buy Abstract This paper presents the author's experience with thin (3-mm) tongue flaps used to close large anterior palatal fistulas. This technique was used successfully in 12 patients with fistulas following surgery for cleft palate. One forked flap and one mushroom-shaped flap that were used to close irregularly shaped fistulas are described. All flaps survived, and there was a partial recurrence of one fistula in only one patient. The results of this series confirm that the thin tongue flap is a safe and reliable technique for the closure of large palatal fistulas even when tailored to fit irregularly shaped defects. ©1993American Society of Plastic Surgeons
