Use of tongue flap in submucous palatal fibrosis

Submucous palatal fibrosis invariably leads to trismus due to fibrosis in the retromolar region. Medical lines of treatment are of no use in relieving the trismus once it is established. Various surgical methods, such as excision of fibrous tissue or excision of fibrous tissue with skin grafting, have been suggested, but none of them has been proved to give a lasting cure. We have made use of tongue flaps on either side in cases of trismus due to submucous palatal fibrosis in the retromolar region. Twenty-five cases have been operated upon with this technique and the results are quite encouraging. Regular follow-up for up to three years has shown good results without any complications.