USE OF BUCCAL FAT PAD TO REPAIR INTRAORAL DEFECTS - REVIEW OF 30 CASES

The buccal fat pad has been frequently used for the closure of ore-ant ral and ore-nasal communications. There are a few studies in the liter ature reporting its use in defects secondary to tumoral resections. In this paper we consider both the anatomical basis and the surgical tec hnique. We also review 30 cases, used for the repair of 15 defects due to tumoral resections, 8 to maxillary cysts, 6 to communications and 1 secondary to a postraumatic defect. It has been successful in 28 of the 29 patients, with a complete epithelization of the flap, even in 4 cases with partial necrosis of the pad. It is an acceptable type of r econstruction, versatile and of a simple surgical technique. However, its use is limited to small or medium defects, being sometimes scarce.