Palatal defect reconstruction with hinged nasal septum flap

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Large hard palate defects present significant reconstructive challenges.
• Single-stage reconstruction is often preferred for efficiency and improved outcomes.
• Minimally invasive techniques are continually being explored for complex facial reconstruction.

Observation:

• A young male patient presented with a large defect of the right hard palate.
• The defect necessitated a complex, multi-stage reconstructive approach.

Findings:

• The entire right hard palate was successfully reconstructed in a single-stage procedure.
• A hinged nasal septum flap was utilized for palatal reconstruction.
• A large facial defect was closed using an abdominal cylindrical flap, tunneled to the face via the wrist.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the feasibility of single-stage palatal reconstruction using a nasal septum flap.
• The innovative use of a remotely tunneled abdominal flap highlights a novel solution for extensive facial defects.
• This approach may offer a viable option for similar complex reconstructive scenarios in plastic and maxillofacial surgery.