The use of dermis-fat graft in oro-nasal fistula repair

Abstract

Aim of the study:
To evaluate the use of dermis-fat graft as autogenous tissue to achieve three layers closure of the palatal fistula. 
One of the most devastating complication that follows cleft palate  surgery  is  oro-  nasal  fistula.  It  can  lead  to  many problems like fluid and food regurgitation, poor oral hygiene and  retropharyngeal  incompetence.  The  repair  of  palatal fistula had long presented  a remarkable  challenge  to  the  plastic  surgeon.  Repair  of  these  fistulae required the use of more  than  the  usual  two-layered  closure  procedures; demanding the introduction of a ‘Third layer’ of tissue to enhance smooth healing, and thereby reduce the chance of closure failure which predispose to fistulization. In this study we used an autogenous graft of ‘’ dermis and fat (dermis-fat) graft  ‘’  to  serve  as  the  third  protective,  supportive  and enhancive layer.