Closure of large palatal defect using a tongue flap

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Pediatric Oncology

Background:

• Cleft palate repair presents significant reconstructive challenges, especially with large hard and soft tissue defects.
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients undergoing palatal reconstruction require specialized surgical approaches.
• Le Fort I osteotomy is a common surgical technique for midface advancement and palate reconstruction.

Observation:

• A young patient with ALL required surgical reconstruction for a complex cleft palate defect.
• A tongue flap was utilized for the closure of the hard and soft tissue defect post-osteotomy.
• The surgical team aimed to achieve sound and lasting tissue coverage.

Findings:

• The tongue flap provided complete and durable closure of the large palatal defect.
• The patient experienced successful healing with good postoperative outcomes.
• The reconstruction demonstrated predictable results in a challenging clinical scenario.

Implications:

• Tongue flap reconstruction is a viable and effective option for extensive palatal defects.
• This technique offers a safe and predictable solution for complex reconstructive cases.
• The study highlights the versatility of tongue flaps in craniofacial reconstruction.