Repair of oroantral communications in the third molar region by random palatal flap
Journal
International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Journal Volume
31
Journal Issue
6
Pages
677-680
Date Issued
2002
Author(s)
Abstract
Various palatal flap procedures based on the greater palatine vessels have been advocated for the repair of oroantral communications (OACs). However, when the defect is located in the third molar region, difficulty is encountered in using the palatal flap because rotation is hindered by the vascular pedicle. In this study, we used random palatal flaps to repair OACs in the third molar area in 21 patients. The vascular pedicles were ligated and severed in all cases in order to evaluate whether it was necessary to preserve the greater palatine vessels when using the palatal rotation flap (PRF). The repair was successful in 16 cases (76.2%). The length/width ratio of the flap was the most important factor determining the outcome. The ratios were 2.23 ± 0.12 and 2.40 ± 0.14 in the success and failure groups, respectively and their difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Other clinical parameters such as age, gender, antral infection, tooth displacement into the sinus and duration of the communication had no influence on the outcome (P>0.05). The study showed that the PRF with the appropriate length/width ratio can safely be used in a random fashion. This provided another option in the repair of oroantral communications of difficult locations such as in the tuberosity area.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; age; article; chi square distribution; clinical article; controlled study; dental surgery; disease duration; female; gender; human; infection; ligation; male; maxilla sinusitis; maxillary sinus; medical decision making; microbiology; molar tooth; mouth mucosa; palate; pathology; plastic surgery; reproducibility; rotation; safety; sex difference; surgical technique; time; tissue flap; tooth disease; tooth fistula; tooth injury; transplantation; treatment failure; treatment outcome; vascularization
Publisher
Churchill Livingstone Inc.
Type
journal article