Reconstruction of microstomia considering their functional status

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Microstomia, characterized by a small mouth, causes functional impairments like difficulty eating and speaking, alongside cosmetic concerns.
• Existing treatment methods for microstomia lack universal applicability.
• This study critically reviews institutional cases and literature to analyze microstomia treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze surgical treatments for microstomia at our institution.
• To critically review the literature on microstomia management.
• To evaluate functional and cosmetic outcomes of surgical interventions for microstomia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for microstomia patients treated between November 2015 and April 2018.
• Analysis of etiology, chief complaint, surgical method, and outcomes in surgically treated patients.
• Evaluation of functional outcomes (mouth opening, intercommissure distance) and patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Five microstomia cases were surgically corrected, with etiologies including chemical burns, skin cancer excision, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
• Surgical methods included full-thickness skin grafts and various buccal mucosal flaps.
• Average improvements were 6.0 mm in mouth opening and 7.2 mm in intercommissure distance, with good to excellent patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Microstomia arises from diverse causes.
• Precise evaluation of etiologic factors and impairment severity is crucial.
• Careful selection of appropriate surgical methods ensures optimal functional recovery and aesthetic improvement.