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The uvulopalatal flap for reconstruction of the soft palate
1The Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Objective:
To determine the indications, complications, and outcomes of the uvulopalatal flap in the reconstruction of defects of the soft palate.
Study Design:
Retrospective review.
Methods:
Patient data were obtained from the hospital records of 18 patients who had soft palate defects reconstructed with the uvulopalatal flap over a 5-year period at a tertiary academic medical center.
Results:
Eleven patients had the uvulopalatal flap as the sole method of reconstruction, whereas this flap was used in combination with a radial forearm free flap, pectoralis flap, and skin graft in 4, 2, and 1 patients, respectively. All flaps were successful in soft palate reconstruction. One flap was successfully revised after additional tumor resection. A partial flap dehiscence occurred in one patient and healed uneventfully. Speech and swallowing function was dependent on initial tumor stage and the scope of tumor resection.
Conclusions:
The uvulopalatal flap is a simple and effective method of soft palate reconstruction either alone or in combination with other methods of reconstruction for selected oropharyngeal defects.
