Functional Morbidity and Surgical Outcomes of Tongue Flap Repair for Cleft Palate Fistulas

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Author(s): Ahmad Saeed,1 Farrukh Aslam Khalid,2 Junaid Ahmad,3 Sania Ahmad,4 Muhammad Amin5 Bushra Akram6

Received: 13/05/2024 | Revised: 01/07/2024 | Published: 05/03/2026 | Pages: 2-6 | DOI: https://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/249/249-1694457074.pdf?t=1778566307


Background: Though cleft palate repair procedures have become more effective, fistula formation is a common occurrence, not just due to the technique but sometimes due to poor tissue quality. Although local flaps are commonly used for fistula closure, their application may not be feasible in certain cases due to the size and location of the fistula. The use of tongue flaps is preferred over other tissues for the closure of anterior palatal fistulae due to their central location and reliability.

Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate the role of the tongue flap in anterior palatal fistula repair.

Methodology: Patients admitted between June 2013 and December 2016 who had a palatal fistula and was repaired with a tongue flap were included in the research. The location of fistula, its size and complications were noted. After three weeks, the flaps were splitted, and the final inset was completed.

Results: A total of forty-four patients were included in the study. In all forty-four instances, the fistula was positioned anteriorly. The fistulae ranged in size between 1 cm to 3.5 cm. None of the patients had flap necrosis. One patient had bleeding, and in one instance involved a dehiscence of the flap that was restitched. None of our patients had functional problems with the tongue. 75% of people reported satisfactory.

Conclusion: Despite the two-staged surgery, the tongue flap continues to be the preferred and reliable flap for treating extremely complex and demanding anterior palatal fistulae. Received | 13-05-2024 Revision | 01-07-2024 Accepted | 05-03-2026 Corresponding Author | Dr. Farrukh Aslam Khalid, Assistant Professor, Jinnah Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Centre, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore Email: drfarrukhaslam@gmail.com Keywords | cleft palate, tongue flap, speech, fistula repair, patient satisfaction.

Keywords: cleft palate, tongue flap, speech, fistula repair, patient satisfaction.